ALC-0315 is a key component of the COVID‐19mRNA vaccine and a highly sought-after lipid for nucleic acid therapeutics research [1]. Ionizable cationic lipids are essential for efficient in vivo delivery of RNA by lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3), ALC-0315, and SM-102 are the only ionizable cationic lipids currently clinically approved for RNA therapies. ALC-0315 and SM-102 are structurally similar lipids used in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines [2].
Cationic lipids (CLs) and ionizable lipids (ILs) initiate the first step of self-assembly via electrostatic interactions. because of toxicity issues and lack of in vivo efficacy, CLs have been replaced by pH-sensitive ILs. The overall architecture of CLs and ILs can be broken down into three parts: (1) the headgroup, (2) the linker, and (3) the tails. The headgroups of ALC-0315 contain a terminal hydroxyl group which could decrease the hydration of the headgroup and improve hydrogen-bonding interactions with the nucleic acid, potentially leading to improved transfection ability. The linker typically connects the headgroup with the tails, although the linkers may also be buried within the tails. DLin-MC3-DMA, ALC-0315, and SM-102 all have ester linkers. DLin-MC3-DMA has two linoleyl tails, while ALC-0315 and SM-102 contain two branched saturated tails that are postulated to endow a cone-shaped geometry, facilitating destabilization of the endosomal membrane and cytosolic release of the nucleic acid [3].
References:
[1]. Saadati F, Cammarone S, Ciufolini M A. A Route to Lipid ALC‐0315: a Key Component of a COVID‐19 mRNA Vaccine[J]. Chemistry–A European Journal, 2022, 28(48): e202200906.
[2]. Ferraresso F, Strilchuk A W, Juang L J, et al. Comparison of DLin-MC3-DMA and ALC-0315 for siRNA Delivery to Hepatocytes and Hepatic Stellate Cells[J]. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2022.
[3]. Eygeris Y, Gupta M, Kim J, et al. Chemistry of lipid nanoparticles for RNA delivery[J]. Accounts of Chemical Research, 2021, 55(1): 2-12.
ALC-0315 是 COVID-19mRNA 疫苗的关键成分,也是核酸治疗研究中备受追捧的脂质[1]。可电离的阳离子脂质对于通过脂质纳米粒子 (LNP) 在体内有效递送 RNA 至关重要。 DLin-MC3-DMA (MC3)、ALC-0315 和 SM-102 是目前临床上唯一批准用于 RNA 疗法的可电离阳离子脂质。 ALC-0315 和 SM-102 是结构相似的脂质,用于 SARS-CoV-2 mRNA 疫苗[2]。
阳离子脂质 (CL) 和可电离脂质 (IL) 通过静电相互作用启动自组装的第一步。由于毒性问题和缺乏体内功效,CL 已被 pH 敏感的 IL 取代。 CL 和 IL 的整体架构可以分为三个部分:(1) headgroup,(2) linker,和 (3) tails。 ALC-0315 的头部含有一个末端羟基,可以减少头部的水合作用并改善与核酸的氢键相互作用,从而可能提高转染能力。接头通常将头部与尾部连接起来,尽管接头也可以埋在尾部内。 DLin-MC3-DMA、ALC-0315 和 SM-102 都具有酯接头。 DLin-MC3-DMA 有两个亚油基尾巴,而 ALC-0315 和 SM-102 包含两个分支的饱和尾巴,假定它们具有锥形几何形状,促进内体膜的去稳定化和核酸的胞质释放 [3].
















