METHOD OF DELIVERING PROTEINS INTO CELLS

20240261415 ยท 2024-08-08

    Inventors

    Cpc classification

    International classification

    Abstract

    The present application discloses a method of delivering a protein drug into a cell, including utilization of a cationic lipid analog material. The cationic lipid analog material of the present application has an efficient intracellular delivery of a protein, and is effective for proteins of different molecular weights and charges. Moreover, the biological activity of the protein can still be maintained when the protein is delivered into the cell. At the same time, the ionizable cationic lipid analog material has low toxicity to cells and good biocompatibility, and can be used as delivery carriers for protein drugs.

    Claims

    1. A method of delivering a protein drug into a cell, comprising utilization of a cationic lipid analog material, wherein the cationic lipid analog material is an ionizable cationic lipid analog material with a structure shown in formula (I): ##STR00109## in formula (I), m.sub.1 is independently selected from the group consisting of a linear alkyl, a branched alkyl, phenyl, or a heteroatom-containing aryl; m.sub.2 is ##STR00110## R.sub.1 is an alkyl, R.sub.2 is an alkyl, R.sub.3 is an alkyl or phenyl, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are connected as a cyclic group or a heterocyclic group; m.sub.3 is independently selected from the group consisting of a linear alkyl, a linear alkenyl, or ##STR00111## and m.sub.4 is independently selected from the group consisting of a linear alkyl, an ether bond-containing linear alkyl, or an N-heterocycle-containing alkyl.

    2. The method according to claim 1, wherein m.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl, phenyl, or a heteroatom-containing aryl substituted by a substituent ?, and the substituent comprises methyl.

    3. The method according to claim 2, wherein m.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00112##

    4. The method according to claim 1, wherein m.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00113##

    5. The method according to claim 4, wherein m.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00114##

    6. The method according to claim 1, wherein m.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of a linear alkyl with 7 to 19 carbon atoms, a linear alkenyl with 17 carbon atoms, or ##STR00115##

    7. The method according to claim 6, wherein m.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00116##

    8. The method according to claim 7, wherein m.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00117##

    9. The method according to claim 1, wherein m.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of a linear alkyl with 6 carbon atoms, an ether bond-containing linear alkyl with 4 to 8 carbon atoms, or an N-heterocycle-containing alkyl.

    10. The method according to claim 9, wherein m.sub.4 is selected from the group consisting of ##STR00118##

    11. The method according to claim 10, wherein m.sub.4 is ##STR00119##

    12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ionizable cationic lipid analog material has a structure selected from the group consisting of the following 72 structures: ##STR00120## ##STR00121## ##STR00122## ##STR00123## ##STR00124## ##STR00125## ##STR00126## ##STR00127## ##STR00128## ##STR00129##

    13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the ionizable cationic lipid analog material is at least one selected from the group consisting of I2R2C15A1, I2R2C16A1, I2R2C17A1, I2R2C18A1, I2R2C19A1, I2R2C20A1, I2R3C18A1, I2R3C20A1, I2R11C16A1, I2R11C18A1, I2R11C20A1, I2-1R2C18A1, I2-3R2C18A1.

    14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protein drug comprises a negatively-charged protein drug and/or a positively-charged protein drug.

    15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the protein drug is selected from the group consisting of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA-FITC), phycoerythrin (R-PE), superoxide dismutase, ovalbumin, green fluorescent protein, cytochrome C, or lysozyme.

    16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cell is selected from the group consisting of a renal epithelial cell, a pancreatic cancer cell, a macrophage, a dendritic cell, an umbilical vein endothelial cell, a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), or a cervical cancer cell.

    17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cell is from a human or a mouse.

    18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cell is a Hela cell.

    Description

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

    [0046] FIG. 1A shows a mass spectrometry spectrum of cationic lipid analog material I2-1R2C18A1; and FIG. 1B shows a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of cationic lipid analog material I2-1R2C18A1;

    [0047] FIG. 2A shows a mass spectrometry spectrum of cationic lipid analog material I2R2C18A1; and FIG. 2B shows a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of cationic lipid analog material I2R2C18A1;

    [0048] FIG. 3A shows a mass spectrometry spectrum of cationic lipid analog material I2-3R2C18A1; and FIG. 3B shows a proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of cationic lipid analog material I2-3R2C18A1;

    [0049] FIG. 4 shows average fluorescence intensities of fluorescently-labeled proteins in HeLa cells in which fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bovine serum albumin (BSA-FITC) is delivered by different cationic lipid analog materials: in the experiment, a dosage of I1R1C12A1, I2R1C14A1, and I2R3C16A1 is 1 ?g/well; a dosage of I1R2C14A1, I1R2C16A1, I1R2C18A1, I1R3C18A1, I1R11C18A1, I2R1C12A1, I2R1C20A1, I2R2C16A1, I2R3C18A1, I2R11C14A1, I2R11C16A1, and I2R11C18A1 is 2 ?g/well; a dosage of I1R3C14A1, I1R3C16A1, I1R3C20A1, I1R11C14A1, I1R11C16A1, I1R11C20A1, I2R2C18A1, I2R2C20A1, I2R3C20A1, and I2R11C20A1 is 4 ?g/well; a dosage of I1R1C14A1, I1R1C16A, I1R1C18A1, I1R1C20A1, I1R2C12A1, I1R2C20A1, I1R3C12A1, I1R5C12A1, I1R5C14A1, I1R5C16A1, I1R5C18A1, I1R5C20A1, I1R11C12A1, I2R1C16A1, I2R1C18A1, I2R2C12A1, I2R2C14A1, I2R3C12A1, I2R3C14A1, I2R5C12A1, I2R5C14A1, I2R5C16A1, I2R5C18A1, I2R5C20A1, and I2R11C12A1 is 8 ?g/well: and a dosage of BSA-FITC is 2 ?g/well;

    [0050] FIG. 5 shows percentages of HeLa cells positive for the fluorescently-labeled proteins after delivery of BSA-FITC using different cationic lipid analog materials, where the experimental conditions are consistent with those described in FIG. 4, respectively;

    [0051] FIG. 6 shows average fluorescence intensities of fluorescently-labeled proteins in HeLa cells after delivery of BSA-FITC using cationic lipid analog materials with different alkyl chain lengths, where the dosage of a cationic lipid analog material is 4 ?g/well, and a dosage of BSA-FITC is 2 ?g/well;

    [0052] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show BSA-FITC intracellular delivery efficiencies corresponding to I2-1R2C18A1, I2R2C18A1, and I2-3R2C18A1 (FIG. 7A), and particle size distributions of corresponding complexes (FIG. 7B);

    [0053] FIG. 8 shows laser scanning confocal microscopy images of different types of cells in which BSA-FITC is delivered by I2-1R2C18A1;

    [0054] FIG. 9 shows cytotoxicity results of I2R2C16A1, I2R2C17A1, I2R2C18A1, I2R2C19A1, and I2R2C20A1 and complexes of them with BSA-FITC, respectively;

    [0055] FIG. 10 shows intracellular delivery efficiencies of I2R2C18A1, I2-1R2C18A1, and a positive control PULSin? for negatively-charged phycoerythrin (R-PE);

    [0056] FIG. 11 shows an intracellular delivery efficiency of I2-1R2C18A1 for negatively-charged superoxide dismutase;

    [0057] FIG. 12 shows an intracellular delivery efficiency of I2-1R2C18A1 for negatively-charged ovalbumin;

    [0058] FIG. 13 shows an intracellular delivery efficiency of I2-1R2C18A1 for negatively-charged green fluorescent protein;

    [0059] FIG. 14 shows an intracellular delivery efficiency of I2-1R2C18A1 for positively-charged cytochrome C;

    [0060] FIG. 15 shows an intracellular delivery efficiency of I2-1R2C18A1 for a positively-charged lysozyme;

    [0061] FIG. 16 shows activity results of ?-galactosidase in HeLa cells in which ?-galactosidase is delivered, where a dosage of a cationic lipid analog material is 4 ?g/well and a dosage of ?-galactosidase is 4 ?g/well; wherein each of the lower pictures bounded by rectangular dotted lines is an enlarged view of a part of the corresponding upper picture;

    [0062] FIG. 17 shows cell viability results of HeLa cells in which saporin is delivered by I2-1R2C18A1, where a dosage of a cationic lipid analog material is 3 ?g/well.

    DETAILED DESCRIPTION

    [0063] In order to well illustrate the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present application, the present application will be further described below in conjunction with specific examples. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific examples described herein are merely intended to explain the present application, rather than to limit the present application.

    [0064] In the examples, unless otherwise specified, the experimental methods used are conventional, and the materials and reagents used are commercially available.

    Example 1 Synthesis and Characterization of Cationic Lipid Analog Materials

    [0065] A synthesis route of the cationic lipid analog material of the present application was as follows:

    ##STR00028## [0066] where the amine compound

    ##STR00029## was any one selected from the group consisting of compounds R1 to R11 as follows; the carboxylic acid compound

    ##STR00030## was any one selected from the group consisting of compounds C8 to C20, CHS as follows; the aldehyde compound

    ##STR00031## was any one selected from the group consisting of compounds A1 to A3 as follows; and the isocyanide compound

    ##STR00032## was any one selected from the group consisting of compounds I1 to I3 as follows:

    ##STR00033## ##STR00034## ##STR00035##

    [0067] A preparation method of the cationic lipid analog material in this example was specifically as follows: 1 mmol of isobutyl aldehyde and 1 mmol of an amine compound were added to 0.5 mL of a methanol solution, and a reaction was conducted for 60 min; 1 mmol of a carboxylic acid compound and 0.5 mmol of an isocyanide compound were added sequentially, and a reaction was conducted at 40? C. for 12 h; and after the reaction was completed, a product was separated and purified by a chromatography column, where a mixture of methanol and dichloromethane was adopted as a mobile phase.

    [0068] Raw materials used in this example and structures of cationic lipid analog materials synthesized thereby were shown in Table 1.

    TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Carb- Iso- oxylic Alde- cyanide Amine acid hyde com- com- com- com- Cationic lipid analog material pound pound pound pound (number and structural formula) 1 I1 R1 C12 A1 I1R1C12A1 [00036]embedded image 2 I1 R1 C14 A1 I1R1C14A1 [00037]embedded image 3 I1 R1 C16 A1 I1R1C16A1 [00038]embedded image 4 I1 R1 C18 A1 I1R1C18A1 [00039]embedded image 5 I1 R1 C20 A1 I1R1C20A1 [00040]embedded image 6 I1 R1 C18-1 A1 I1R1C18-1A1 [00041]embedded image 7 I1 R1 C18-2 A1 I1R1C18-2A1 [00042]embedded image 8 I1 R2 C12 A1 I1R2C12A1 [00043]embedded image 9 I1 R2 C14 A1 I1R2C14A1 [00044]embedded image 10 I1 R2 C16 A1 I1R2C16A1 [00045]embedded image 11 I1 R2 C18 A1 I1R2C18A1 [00046]embedded image 12 I1 R2 C20 A1 I1R2C20A1 [00047]embedded image 13 I1 R2 C18-1 A1 I1R2C18-1A1 [00048]embedded image 14 I1 R2 C18-2 A1 I1R2C18-2A1 [00049]embedded image 15 I1 R3 C12 A1 I1R3C12A1 [00050]embedded image 16 I1 R3 C14 A1 I1R3C14A1 [00051]embedded image 17 I1 R3 C16 A1 I1R3C16A1 [00052]embedded image 18 I1 R3 C18 A1 I1R3C18A1 [00053]embedded image 19 I1 R3 C20 A1 I1R3C20A1 [00054]embedded image 20 I1 R3 C18-1 A1 I1R3C18-1A1 [00055]embedded image 21 I1 R3 C18-2 A1 I1R3C18-2A1 [00056]embedded image 22 I1 R5 C12 A1 I1R5C12A1 [00057]embedded image 23 I1 R5 C14 A1 I1R5C14A1 [00058]embedded image 24 I1 R5 C16 A1 I1R5C16A1 [00059]embedded image 25 I1 R5 C18 A1 I1R5C18A1 [00060]embedded image 26 I1 R5 C20 A1 I1R5C20A1 [00061]embedded image 27 I1 R5 C18-1 A1 I1R5C18-1A1 [00062]embedded image 28 I1 R5 C18-2 A1 I1R5C18-2A1 [00063]embedded image 29 I1 R11 C12 A1 I1R11C12A1 [00064]embedded image 30 I1 R11 C14 A1 I1R11C14A1 [00065]embedded image 31 I1 R11 C16 A1 I1R11C16A1 [00066]embedded image 32 I1 R11 C18 A1 I1R11C18A1 [00067]embedded image 33 I1 R11 C20 A1 I1R11C20A1 [00068]embedded image 34 I1 R11 C18-1 A1 I1R11C18-1A1 [00069]embedded image 35 I1 R11 C18-2 A1 I1R11C18-2A1 [00070]embedded image 36 I2 R1 C12 A1 I2R1C12A1 [00071]embedded image 37 I2 R1 C14 A1 I2R1C14A1 [00072]embedded image 38 I2 R1 C16 A1 I2R1C16A1 [00073]embedded image 39 I2 R1 C18 A1 I2R1C18A1 [00074]embedded image 40 I2 R1 C20 A1 I2R1C20A1 [00075]embedded image 41 I2 R1 C18-1 A1 I2R1C18-1A1 [00076]embedded image 42 I2 R1 C18-2 A1 I2R1C18-2A1 [00077]embedded image 43 I2 R2 C12 A1 I2R2C12A1 [00078]embedded image 44 I2 R2 C14 A1 I2R2C14A1 [00079]embedded image 45 I2 R2 C16 A1 I2R2C16A1 [00080]embedded image 46 I2 R2 C18 A1 I2R2C18A1 [00081]embedded image 47 I2 R2 C20 A1 I2R2C20A1 [00082]embedded image 48 I2 R2 C18-1 A1 I2R2C18-IAI [00083]embedded image 49 I2 R2 C18-2 A1 I2R2C18-2A1 [00084]embedded image 50 I2 R3 C12 A1 I2R3C12A1 [00085]embedded image 51 I2 R3 C14 A1 I2R3C14A1 [00086]embedded image 52 I2 R3 C16 A1 I2R3C16A1 [00087]embedded image 53 I2 R3 C18 A1 I2R3C18A1 [00088]embedded image 54 I2 R3 C20 A1 I2R3C20A1 [00089]embedded image 55 I2 R3 C18-1 A1 I2R3C18-1A1 [00090]embedded image 56 I2 R3 C18-2 A1 I2R3C18-2A1 [00091]embedded image 57 I2 R5 C12 A1 I2R5C12A1 [00092]embedded image 58 I2 R5 C14 A1 I2R5C14A1 [00093]embedded image 59 I2 R5 C16 A1 I2R5C16A1 [00094]embedded image 60 I2 R5 C18 A1 I2R5C18A1 [00095]embedded image 61 I2 R5 C20 A1 I2R5C20A1 [00096]embedded image 62 I2 R5 C18-1 A1 I2R5C18-1A1 [00097]embedded image 63 I2 R5 C18-2 A1 I2R5C18-2A1 [00098]embedded image 64 I2 R11 C12 A1 I2R11C12A1 [00099]embedded image 65 I2 R11 C14 A1 I2R11C14A1 [00100]embedded image 66 I2 R11 C16 A1 I2R11C16A1 [00101]embedded image 67 I2 R11 C18 A1 I2R11C18A1 [00102]embedded image 68 I2 R11 C20 A1 I2R11C20A1 [00103]embedded image 69 I2 R11 C18-1 A1 I2R11C18-1A1 [00104]embedded image 70 I2 R11 C18-2 A1 I2R11C18-2A1 [00105]embedded image 71 I2-1 R2 C18 A1 I2-IR2C18A1 [00106]embedded image 72 I2-3 R2 C18 A1 I2-3R2C18A1 [00107]embedded image

    [0069] Cationic lipid analog materials I2-1R2C18A1, I2R2C18A1, and I2-3R2C18A1 were selected as representative materials, and structures of these materials were characterized, where mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of I2-1R2C18A1 were shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B; mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of I2R2C18A1 were shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B; and mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of I2-3R2C18A1 were shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Results of proton nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry were consistent with the expected structures of the cationic lipid analog materials.

    Example 2

    [0070] In this example, BSA-FITC was used as a protein model to investigate the intracellular protein delivery of a cationic lipid analog material.

    [0071] A specific experimental method was as follows: HeLa cells were inoculated in a 24-well plate and cultured in an incubator for 12 h in advance; different cationic lipid analog materials (0.25 ?g/well to 8 ?g/well) each were mixed with BSA-FITC (2 ?g/well) in 50 ?l of a N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethane sulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer, and resulting mixtures each were diluted with 450 ?l of a serum-free Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) to obtain protein/cationic lipid analog complex solutions; a medium for the HeLa cells in the plate was removed, then the HeLa cells were washed once with phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and the protein/cationic lipid analog complex solutions were added; and the cells were cultured for 4 h, and then a fluorescence intensity in cells and a positive cell rate were analyzed by flow cytometry. In this experiment, the commercial protein delivery reagent PULSin? was adopted as a positive control.

    [0072] The results in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show that all of the cationic lipid analog materials of the present application exhibit an intracellular delivery effect for proteins to some degree; and in particular, when the isocyanide compound is 12 and the amine compound is R2, R3, or R11, most of the synthesized cationic lipid analog materials have significantly-better delivery efficiency than the commercial protein delivery reagent PULSin?.

    [0073] In this experiment, with I2R2C14A1, I2R2C15A1, I2R2C16A1, I2R2C17A1, I2R2C18A1, I2R2C19A1, and I2R2C20A1 as representatives, average fluorescence intensities of cellular proteins of the cationic lipid analog materials with different alkyl chain lengths were compared. The results in FIG. 6 show that, in the present application, an alkyl chain length of a carboxylic acid compound can be increased to adjust the hydrophobicity of a cationic lipid analog material; and an intracellular protein delivery efficiency of a cationic lipid analog material is also increased with the increase of an alkyl chain length, and reaches a platform value when the number of carbon atoms of an alkyl chain of the carboxylic acid compound is 18.

    [0074] In this experiment, with I2-1R2C18A1, I2R2C18A1, and I2-3R2C18A1 as representatives, particle sizes of corresponding protein/cationic lipid analog complexes were determined. It can be seen from the results in FIGS. 7A and 7B that I2-1R2C18A1, I2R2C18A1, and I2-3R2C18A1 all have excellent intracellular delivery efficiencies for proteins (a dosage of a cationic lipid analog was 4 ?g/well and a dosage of BSA-FITC was 2 ?g/well), and they bind to BSA to produce a complex with a small size and a homogeneous distribution, and the complex has a particle size of about 500 nm.

    Example 3 Protein Delivery Effects of I2-1R2C18A1 in Different Types of Cells

    [0075] In this experiment, I2-1R2C18A1 was selected as a representative cationic lipid analog material, and protein delivery effects of the cationic lipid analog material in different types of cells were investigated.

    [0076] In this experiment, a BSA-FITC/I2-1R2C18A1 complex solution was prepared with reference to the method in Example 2, where a dosage of I2-1R2C18A1 was 4 ?g/well and a dosage of BSA-FITC was 4 ?g/well; and the BSA-FITC/I2-1R2C18A1 complex solution was added to human renal epithelial cells (HRECs) (HEK-293T), human pancreatic cancer cells (BxPC3), mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7), mouse dendritic cells (DCs) (DC 2.4), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and mouse mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), respectively, then these cells each were cultured for 4 h, and then an FITC fluorescence signal in cells was observed by LSCM.

    [0077] The results in FIG. 8 show that BSA-FITC can be intracellularly delivered by I2-1R2C18A1 into epithelial cells: HRECs (HEK-293T); cancer cells: human pancreatic cancer cells (BxPC3); immune cells: mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) and mouse DCs (DC 2.4); endothelial cells: HUVECs; and stem cells: mouse MSCs. It can be seen that I2-1R2C18A1 exhibits excellent protein delivery effects in different types of cells.

    Example 4 Cytotoxicity Test of Cationic Lipid Analog Materials and Corresponding Complexes

    [0078] In this experiment, I2R2C16A1, I2R2C17A1, I2R2C18A1, I2R2C19A1, and I2R2C20A1 with high protein delivery efficiencies were selected as representative cationic lipid analog materials, and the toxicity of protein/cationic lipid analogs for HeLa cells was detected by an MTT experiment. A specific experimental method was as follows: HeLa cells were inoculated in a 96-well plate and cultured in an incubator for 12 h, then a medium was removed, and a cationic lipid analog material or a BSA-FITC/cationic lipid analog complex (a mass ratio of the cationic lipid analog material to the BSA-FITC was 2:1) was added at 1 ?g/well; the cells were further cultured for 4 h, then the material was washed away and replaced with DMEM; and the cells were further cultured for 20 h, and finally cell viability was detected by MTT.

    [0079] The results in FIG. 9 show that the cationic lipid analog materials of the present application and a complex of the materials with a protein have low toxicity to cells and have excellent biocompatibility.

    Example 5 Intracellular Delivery Effects of a Cationic Lipid Analog Material for Different Proteins

    [0080] In this experiment, intracellular delivery effects of the cationic lipid analog material for phycoerythrin (R-PE), superoxide dismutase, ovalbumin, green fluorescent protein, cytochrome C, and lysozyme were investigated. In this experiment, a protein/cationic lipid analog complex solution was prepared with reference to the method in Example 2, and a delivery effect of the complex solution in HeLa cells was investigated.

    [0081] Thereinto, delivery effects of I2R2C18A1, I2-1R2C18A1, and a positive control PULSin? for negatively-charged phycoerythrin were shown in FIG. 10; a delivery effect of I2-1R2C18A1 for negatively-charged superoxide dismutase was shown in FIG. 11; a delivery effect of I2-1R2C18A1 for negatively-charged ovalbumin was shown in FIG. 12; a delivery effect of I2-1R2C18A1 for negatively-charged green fluorescent protein was shown in FIG. 13; a delivery effect of I2-1R2C18A1 for positively-charged cytochrome C was shown in FIG. 14; and a delivery effect of I2-1R2C18A1 for positively-charged lysozyme was shown in FIG. 15. The above results show that the cationic lipid analog material of the present application can efficiently deliver proteins of different molecular weights and different charged properties into cells, such as bovine serum albumin, phycoerythrin, superoxide dismutase, ovalbumin, green fluorescent protein, cytochrome C, and lysozyme, indicating that the cationic lipid analog material of the present application has universal applicability in terms of intracellular delivery of protein drugs.

    Example 6 Delivery of ?-Galactase (?-Gal) by I2-1R2C18A1 and Detection of Activity of ?-Gal in Cells

    [0082] In this experiment, ?-Gal was selected as a model protein to detect the biological activity of enzymes after intracellular delivery, and then evaluate whether proteins maintain biological functions after intracellular delivery. The specific operation method was as follows: HeLa cells were cultured with ?-Gal, ?-Gal/PULSin, or ?-Gal/I2-1R2C18A1 for 4 h and then washed with PBS, and then the activity of ?-Gal in cells was detected with a ?-Gal in situ assay kit according to instructions.

    [0083] It can be seen from the results in FIG. 16 that I2-1R2C18A1 can efficiently deliver 1-Gal into cells while retaining its biological activity. The effectiveness of I2-1R2C18A1 is significantly better than that of the commercially available protein delivery reagent PULSin?.

    Example 7 Delivery of Saporin into HeLa Cells by I2-1R2C18A1 and Detection of Cell Viability

    [0084] HeLa cells were incubated with saporin or saporin/I2-1R2C18A1 for 4 h, then the material was replaced by a complete medium, the cells were further cultured for 20 h, and then cell viability was detected by an MTT method.

    [0085] The results in FIG. 17 show that saporin itself exhibits minimal toxicity for cells; and I2-1R2C18A1 can effectively deliver saporin into cells due to its high protein delivery efficiency, and saporin delivered into the cells has a therapeutic function and can effectively kill tumor cells.

    [0086] In addition, the inventors have found in previous research that, when the isobutyl aldehyde in Example 1 is replaced by

    ##STR00108##

    prepared cationic lipid analog materials also have low cytotoxicity, and when BSA-FITC is adopted as a protein model, these cationic lipid analog materials also exhibit a specified intracellular delivery effects for the protein in HeLa cells. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that these cationic lipid analog materials can also be used as delivery carriers for protein drugs.

    [0087] Finally, it should be noted that the above examples are provided merely to describe the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit the protection scope of the present application. Although the present application is described in detail with reference to preferred examples, a person of ordinary skill in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent replacements may be made to the technical solutions of the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present application.