Synthesis and Evaluation of Renewable Oil Based Cationic Lipids

Gene therapy is a modern approach for treatment of diseases of inherited or acquired origin. For the success of gene therapy the delivery of nuclear material to the cells is essential and the most important step. Cationic lipids are important non viral gene delivery systems.1 These cationic lipids form stable lipoplexes with DNA which are readily taken up by the cell by the phenomenon of endocytosis. Recently we have reported a series of novel gemini pyridinium amphiphiles having good surface properties, DNA binding capability and low cytotoxicity.2 In continuation to our research aimed to develop novel non viral gene delivery agents. We, in the present work, report the synthesis of several gemini imidazolium lipids using renewable cardanol oil feed stock. The evaluation surface properties, DNA interaction studies and cytotoxicity of these cationic lipids shall also be presented.
Reference:-
1) The Design of Cationic Lipids for Gene Delivery. B. Martin, M. Sainlos, A. Aissaoui, N. Oudrhiri, M. Hauchecorne, J.-P. Vigneron, J.-M. Lehn and P. Lehn. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2005, 11, 375-394.
2) Novel Gemini Pyridinium Surfactants: Synthesis and study of their Surface activity, DNA binding and Cytotoxicity. A. Bhadani and S.Singh. Langmuir, 2009, 25(19), 11703–11712.