abstract |
The present invention provides a lipid of the formula (I) R 3 R 4 N—[Y] q —(C p H 2p )—X-Linker-NR 1 R 2 (I) wherein R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups; q is an integer selected from 1 to 10; Y represents a group (C n H 2n )NR 5 , wherein (i) when q is 1, n is 2, or (ii) when q is greater than 1, each Y may be the same or different and each n is an integer independently selected from 1 to 10, with the proviso that for at least one unit Y, n is 2, and (iii) each R 5 is independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups; p is an integer selected from 1 to 10; X is an optional group selected from —NR 7 —, —C(═O)—NR 8 —, —NR 9 —C(═O)—, —C(═O)—, —O—, and NR 10 —C(=0)0-, wherein each R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 is independently selected from H and hydrocarbyl groups, Linker is an optional group selected from amino acid residues, peptide residues and groups of the formula —(OCH 2 CH 2 ) 1-10 , —NR 6 -(CvH 2v )—C(═O)—, wherein R 6 is H or a hydrocarbyl group and v is an integer selected from 1 to 11, and —C(=0)-(CH 2 ) 0-10 —CH 2 —C(=0)-; R 1 is selected from acyclic groups having from 4 to 30 carbon atoms; and R 2 is selected from H and acyclic groups having from 4 to 30 carbon atoms. Said lipids can be used in a delivery vehicle (e.g. micelle or liposome) for the delivery of one or more (therapeutic or diagnostic) agents. |