Disclosed herein is a lipid having a net charge at physiological pH, and being covalently attached to a lipid moiety. The lipid moiety comprises a hydrocarbon structure having two or more linked hydrocarbon chains, optionally having cis or trans C═C, at least one of said chains being covalently attached to the head group optionally via the linker region. The hydrocarbon chains are bonded to one another at a branch point at an internal carbon of the chain attached to the linker region, which branch point comprises a functional group having an electronegative atom. The hydrocarbon chains each have between 1 and 40 carbon atoms, wherein the hydrocarbon structure in total comprises between 10 and 150 carbon atoms. Advantageously, the hydrocarbon structure may assume a generally flared shape for enhanced delivery of cargo molecules. Further provided are delivery vehicles comprising the lipids.

The subject of the present invention is a lipidoid of general formula (I), wherein X, Y, Z and R are as defined in the claims. This lipidoid is useful as a transfection agent. The invention further describes transfection agents, transfection particles containing this lipidoid, and their use.

##STR00001##

The disclosure relates to ionizable lipids and compositions comprising the ionizable lipids. Lipid-nanoparticle compositions comprised of an ionizable lipid, optionally in combination with other lipid components such as helper lipids, stabilization lipids and structural lipids, and a therapeutic agent, such as a nucleic acid, for delivery to mammalian cells or organs are described.

The disclosure relates to ionizable lipids and compositions comprising the ionizable lipids. Lipid-nanoparticle compositions comprised of an ionizable lipid, optionally in combination with other lipid components such as helper lipids, stabilization lipids and structural lipids, and a therapeutic agent, such as a nucleic acid, for delivery to mammalian cells or organs are described.

Terpene-containing lipidoid compounds, methods of preparing such compositions, and the use of these, compositions in gene delivery applications are disclosed.

Terpene-containing lipidoid compounds, methods of preparing such compositions, and the use of these, compositions in gene delivery applications are disclosed.

A lipidoid is disclosed of general formula I ##STR00001##
wherein X, Y, Z and R are as defined in the claims. This lipidoid is useful as a transfection agent. The disclosure further describes transfection agents, transfection particles containing this lipidoid, and their use.