Patent ID: 6071890
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: A61K,A61P,C07J,C12N

Abstract:
A composition comprising(1) a biologically active molecule selected from:proteins, small molecules, and nucleic acid molecules selected from ribosomal RNA, an antisense polynucleotide of RNA or DNA, a ribozyme, and a polynucleotide of genomic DNA, cDNA, or mRNA;(2) a cationic amphiphile effective for delivering said biologically active molecule into a heart cell, tumor cell, or blood cell of a mammal, said cationic amphiphile being of the formula ##STR20## wherein: Z is a steroid;X is carbon atom or a nitrogen atom;Y is a short linking group, or Y is absent;R.sup.3 is H, or a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group;R.sup.1 is --NH--, an alkylamine, or a polyalkylamine;R.sup.4 is H, or a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group;R.sup.2 is --NH--, an alkylamine, or a polyalkylamineand wherein R.sup.1 is the same or is different from R.sup.2, except that both R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 cannot be --NH--; and optionally(3) a co-lipid;wherein the molar ratio of said cationic amphiphile to said biologically active molecule in said composition is effective to cause cationic amphiphile/biologically active molecule complexes in a solution of said composition to have a positive zeta potential.