The present invention relates to a cationic lipid having one or more biodegradable groups located in a lipidic moiety (e.g., a hydrophobic chain) of the cationic lipid. These cationic lipids may be incorporated into a lipid particle for delivering an active agent, such as a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to lipid particles comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, a cationic lipid of the present invention, and optionally, a sterol. The lipid particle may further include a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of methionine comprising the step of contacting a solution or suspension comprising 2-amino-4-(methylthio)butanenitrile and/or 2-amino-4-(methylthio)butaneamide with water in the presence of a catalyst to give a methionine comprising mixture, wherein the catalyst comprises CeO.sub.2 comprising particles, wherein the CeO.sub.2 comprising particles comprise from 50 to 100 wt.-% of CeO.sub.2, have a BET surface area of from 35 to 65 m.sup.2/g measured according to DIN ISO 9277-5 (2003), a mean maximum Feret diameter x.sub.Fmax, mean of from 10 to 40 nm and a mean minimum Feret diameter x.sub.Fmin, mean of from 5 to 30 nm, both measured according to DIN ISO 9276-6 (2012).

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of methionine comprising the step of contacting a solution or suspension comprising 2-amino-4-(methylthio)butanenitrile and/or 2-amino-4-(methylthio)butaneamide with water in the presence of a catalyst to give a methionine comprising mixture, wherein the catalyst comprises CeO.sub.2 comprising particles, wherein the CeO.sub.2 comprising particles comprise from 50 to 100 wt.-% of CeO.sub.2, have a BET surface area of from 35 to 65 m.sup.2/g measured according to DIN ISO 9277-5 (2003), a mean maximum Feret diameter x.sub.Fmax, mean of from 10 to 40 nm and a mean minimum Feret diameter x.sub.Fmin, mean of from 5 to 30 nm, both measured according to DIN ISO 9276-6 (2012).

The present specification discloses a method of producing a concentrated carbonate aqueous solution. The present invention relates to a method for producing a concentrated carbonate aqueous solution, comprising a step of dewatering a hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution by means of a salt blocking membrane to prepare a concentrated hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution, wherein the concentrated hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution obtained in the above step is heated to thermally decompose the hydrogen carbonate into carbonate, carbon dioxide and water, and to evaporate water to obtain a concentrate of the carbonate aqueous solution.

The present specification discloses a method of producing a concentrated carbonate aqueous solution. The present invention relates to a method for producing a concentrated carbonate aqueous solution, comprising a step of dewatering a hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution by means of a salt blocking membrane to prepare a concentrated hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution, wherein the concentrated hydrogen carbonate aqueous solution obtained in the above step is heated to thermally decompose the hydrogen carbonate into carbonate, carbon dioxide and water, and to evaporate water to obtain a concentrate of the carbonate aqueous solution.

The present invention provides, a cationic lipid represented by the formula (1) (wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification), a lipid membrane structure using the aforementioned cationic lipid, a nucleic acid-introducing agent using the aforementioned cationic lipid, and a method for introducing a nucleic acid by using the aforementioned nucleic acid-introducing agent.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a cationic lipid having one or more biodegradable groups located in a lipidic moiety (e.g., a hydrophobic chain) of the cationic lipid. These cationic lipids may be incorporated into a lipid particle for delivering an active agent, such as a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to lipid particles comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, a cationic lipid of the present invention, and optionally, a sterol. The lipid particle may further include a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.

The present invention relates to a cationic lipid having one or more biodegradable groups located in a lipidic moiety (e.g., a hydrophobic chain) of the cationic lipid. These cationic lipids may be incorporated into a lipid particle for delivering an active agent, such as a nucleic acid. The invention also relates to lipid particles comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, a cationic lipid of the present invention, and optionally, a sterol. The lipid particle may further include a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.

Described herein are compounds and compositions characterized, in certain embodiments, by conjugation of various groups, such as lipophilic groups, to an amino or amide group of an amino acid, a linear or cyclic peptide, a linear or cyclic polypeptide, or structural isomer thereof, to provide compounds of the present invention, collectively referred to herein as “APPLs”. Such APPLs are deemed useful for a variety of applications, such as, for example, improved nucleotide delivery. Exemplary APPLs include, but are not limited to, compounds of Formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), and (VI), and salts thereof, as described herein:

##STR00001##

wherein m, n, p, R′, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.8, Z, W, Y, and Z are as defined herein.

Described herein are compounds and compositions characterized, in certain embodiments, by conjugation of various groups, such as lipophilic groups, to an amino or amide group of an amino acid, a linear or cyclic peptide, a linear or cyclic polypeptide, or structural isomer thereof, to provide compounds of the present invention, collectively referred to herein as “APPLs”. Such APPLs are deemed useful for a variety of applications, such as, for example, improved nucleotide delivery. Exemplary APPLs include, but are not limited to, compounds of Formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), and (VI), and salts thereof, as described herein:

##STR00001##

wherein m, n, p, R′, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.8, Z, W, Y, and Z are as defined herein.