Tri-peptide cationic lipids for gene delivery

Several novel tri-peptide cationic lipids were designed and synthesized for delivering DNA and siRNA. They have tri-lysine and tri-ornithine as headgroups, a carbamate group as a linker and 12 and 14 carbon atom alkyl groups as tails. These tri-peptide cationic lipids were prepared into cationic liposomes for the study of the physicochemical properties and gene delivery. Their particle size, zeta potential and DNA-binding were characterized to show that they were suitable for gene transfection. Further results indicate that these lipids can transfer DNA and siRNA very efficiently into NCI-H460 and Hep-2 tumor cells. The selected lipid, CDO14, was able to deliver combined siRNAs against c-Myc and VEGF for silencing distinct oncogenic pathways in lung tumors of mice, with little in vitro and in vivo toxicity.