Patent ID: 8163305

Claim:
A nanoparticle for in vivo delivery of a nucleic acid sequence to a target, comprising: (a) a cross-linked neutral amphipathic molecule (NAM) comprising a hydrophilic head group; a hydrophobic tail group; and a linker or covalent bond between the head and tail groups, and further comprising a crosslinking functional group providing for oligomer formation; (b) a cationic amphipathic molecule (CAM) comprising a hydrophilic head group; a hydrophobic tail group; and a linker or covalent bond between the head and tail groups; (c) a targeting amphipathic molecule (TAM) comprising a hydrophilic head group, a hydrophobic tail group; and a linker or covalent bond between the head and tail groups, and further comprising a targeting moiety covalently bound to the hydrophilic head group, wherein the targeting moiety is a molecule that binds to an endothelial cell; and (d) a nucleic acid sequence complexed to the CAM, wherein said CAM comprises about 5% to about 40% w/w of the total amphipathic molecules, and said TAM comprises about 1% to about 20% w/w of the total amphipathic molecules.