Biodegradable lipids for the delivery of active agents

1. A compound of the formula:

or a salt thereof, wherein

R′ is absent, hydrogen, or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

with respect to R 1 and R 2 ,

(i) R 1 and R 2 are each, independently, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycle, or R 10 ;

(ii) R 1 and R 2 , together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocylic ring; or

(iii) one of R 1 and R 2 is optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, or heterocycle, and the other forms a 4-10 member heterocyclic ring or heteroaryl with (a) the adjacent nitrogen atom and (b) the (R) a group adjacent to the nitrogen atom;

each occurrence of R is, independently, —(CR 3 R 4 )—;

each occurrence of R 3 and R 4 are, independently H, halogen, OH, alkyl, alkoxy, —NH 2 , R 10 , alkylamino, or dialkylamino;

each occurrence of R 10 is independently selected from PEG and polymers based on poly(oxazoline), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(glycerol), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] and poly(amino acid)s, wherein (i) the PEG or polymer is linear or branched, (ii) the PEG or polymer is polymerized by n subunits, (iii) n is a number-averaged degree of polymerization between 10 and 200 units, and (iv) the compound of formula (III) has at most two R 10 groups;

the dashed line to Q is absent or a bond;

when the dashed line to Q is absent then Q is absent or is —O—, —NH—, —S—, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)N(R 4 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —S—S—, —OC(O)O—, —O—N═C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )═N—O—, —OC(O)N(R 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)O—, —C(O)S—, —C(S)O— or —C(R 5 )═N—O—C(O)—; or

when the dashed line to Q is a bond then (i) b is 0 and (ii) Q and the tertiary carbon adjacent to it (C*) form a substituted or unsubstituted, mono- or bi-cyclic heterocyclic group having from 5 to 10 ring atoms;

each occurrence of R 5 is, independently, H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

M 1 and M 2 are each, independently, selected from —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —SC(O)—, —C(O)S—, —OC(S)—, —C(S)O—, —S—S—, —C(R 5 )═N—, —N═C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )═N—O—, —O—N═C(R 5 )—, —C(O)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —C(S)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —OC(O)O—, —OSi(R 5 ) 2 O—, —C(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)O—, —OC(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)—, or

(wherein R 11 is a C 2 -C 8 alkyl or alkenyl));

each occurrence of R z is, independently, C 1 -C 8 alkyl;

a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6;

b is 0, 1, 2, or 3;

L 1 and L 2 are each, independently, C 1 -C 5 alkylene or C 2 -C 5 alkenylene;

X and Y are each, independently, C 4 -C 20 alkylene or C 4 -C 20 alkenylene; and

Z 1 and Z 2 are each, independently, C 8 -C 14 alkyl or C 8 -C 14 alkenyl, wherein the alkenyl group may optionally be substituted with one or two fluorine atoms at the alpha position to a double bond which is between the double bond and the terminus of Z 1 or Z 2 , and with the proviso that the terminus of at least one of Z 1 and Z 2 is separated from the group M 1 or M 2 by at least 8 carbon atoms.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein L 1 and L 2 are each —CH 2 —.

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein L 1 and L 2 are each —(CH 2 ) 2 — or —(CH 2 ) 3 .

4. The compound of claim 1 , wherein X and Y are each, independently —(CH 2 ) n — wherein n is 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

5. The compound of claim 4 , wherein X and Y are —(CH 2 ) 7 —, —(CH 2 ) 8 —, or —(CH 2 ) 9 —.

6. A compound of the formula:

or a salt thereof, wherein

R′ is absent, hydrogen, or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

with respect to R 1 and R 2 ,

(i) R 1 and R 2 are each, independently, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycle, or R 10 ;

(ii) R 1 and R 2 , together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocylic ring; or

(iii) one of R 1 and R 2 is optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, or heterocycle, and the other forms a 4-10 member heterocyclic ring or heteroaryl with (a) the adjacent nitrogen atom and (b) the (R) a group adjacent to the nitrogen atom;

each occurrence of R is, independently, —(CR 3 R 4 )—;

each occurrence of R 3 and R 4 are, independently H, halogen, OH, alkyl, alkoxy, —NH 2 , R 10 , alkylamino, or dialkylamino;

each occurrence of R 10 is independently selected from PEG and polymers based on poly(oxazoline), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(glycerol), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] and poly(amino acid)s, wherein (i) the PEG or polymer is linear or branched, (ii) the PEG or polymer is polymerized by n subunits, (iii) n is a number-averaged degree of polymerization between 10 and 200 units, and (iv) the compound of formula IIIA has at most two R 10 groups;

the dashed line to Q is absent or a bond;

when the dashed line to Q is absent then Q is absent or is —O—, —NH—, —S—, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)N(R 4 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —S—S—, —OC(O)O—, —O—N═C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )═N—O—, —OC(O)N(R 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)O—, —C(O)S—, —C(S)O— or —C(R 5 )═N—O—C(O)—; or

when the dashed line to Q is a bond then (i) b is 0 and (ii) Q and the tertiary carbon adjacent to it (C*) form a substituted or unsubstituted, mono- or bi-cyclic heterocyclic group having from 5 to 10 ring atoms;

each occurrence of R 5 is, independently, H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

M 1 and M 2 are each, independently, selected from —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —SC(O)—, —C(O)S—, —OC(S)—, —C(S)O—, —S—S—, —C(R 5 )═N—, —N═C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )═N—O—, —O—N═C(R 5 )—, —C(O)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —C(S)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —OC(O)O—, —OSi(R 5 ) 2 O—, —C(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)O—, —OC(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)—, or

(wherein R 11 is a C 2 -C 8 alkyl or alkenyl);

each occurrence of R z is, independently, C 1 -C 8 alkyl;

a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6;

b is 0, 1, 2, or 3;

each R z is, independently, C 1 -C 8 alkyl;

L 1 and L 2 are each, independently, C 1 -C 5 alkylene or C 2 -C 5 alkenylene;

X and Y are each, independently, C 4 -C 20 alkylene or C 4 -C 20 alkenylene; and

Z 1 and Z 2 are each, independently, C 1 -C 8 alkyl or C 2 -C 8 alkenyl;

wherein said compound is not one selected from:

7. The compound of claim 6 , wherein L 1 and L 2 are each —(CH 2 ) 2 —.

8. The compound of claim 6 , wherein L 1 and L 2 are each —(CH 2 ) 3 —.

9. The compound of claim 6 , wherein X and Y are each, independently, —(CH 2 ) n — wherein n is 7-9.

10. The compound of claim 6 , wherein M 1 and M 2 are —C(O)O— (where the carbonyl group in M 1 and M 2 is bound to the variable X, and the oxygen atom in M 1 and M 2 is bound to the variable L 1 and L 2 ).

11. The compound of claim 6 , wherein the R′R 1 R 2 N—(R) a -Q-(R) b — group is selected from (CH 3 ) 2 N—(CH 2 ) 3 —C(O)O—, (CH 3 ) 2 N—(CH 2 ) 2 —NH—C(O)O—, (CH 3 ) 2 N—(CH 2 ) 2 —OC(O)—NH—, and (CH 3 ) 2 N—(CH 2 ) 3 —C(CH 3 )═N—O—.

12. The compound of claim 6 , wherein Z 1 , Z 2 , and each R z are C 3 -C 8 alkyl.

13. The compound of claim 12 , wherein Z 1 , Z 2 , and each R z are C 3 -C 6 alkyl.

14. A compound of the formula:

or a salt thereof, wherein

R′ is absent, hydrogen, or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

with respect to R 1 and R 2 ,

(i) R 1 and R 2 are each, independently, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, heterocycle, or R 10 ;

(ii) R 1 and R 2 , together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form an optionally substituted heterocylic ring; or

(iii) one of R 1 and R 2 is optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, or heterocycle, and the other forms a 4-10 member heterocyclic ring or heteroaryl with (a) the adjacent nitrogen atom and (b) the (R) a group adjacent to the nitrogen atom;

each occurrence of R is, independently, —(CR 3 R 4 )—;

each occurrence of R 3 and R 4 are, independently H, halogen, OH, alkyl, alkoxy, —NH 2 , R 10 , alkylamino, or dialkylamino;

each occurrence of R 10 is independently selected from PEG and polymers based on poly(oxazoline), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(glycerol), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] and poly(amino acid)s, wherein (i) the PEG or polymer is linear or branched, (ii) the PEG or polymer is polymerized by n subunits, (iii) n is a number-averaged degree of polymerization between 10 and 200 units, and (iv) the compound of formula (IV) has at most two R 10 groups;

the dashed line to Q is absent or a bond;

when the dashed line to Q is absent then Q is absent or is —O—, —NH—, —S—, —C(O)—, —C(O)O—, —OC(O)—, —C(O)N(R 4 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —S—S—, —OC(O)O—, —O—N═C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )═N—O—, —OC(O)N(R 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)O—, —C(O)S—, —C(S)O— or —C(R 5 )═N—O—C(O)—; or

when the dashed line to Q is a bond then (i) b is 0 and (ii) Q and the tertiary carbon adjacent to it (C*) form a substituted or unsubstituted, mono- or bi-cyclic heterocyclic group having from 5 to 10 ring atoms;

each occurrence of R 5 is, independently, H or C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

M 1 and M 2 are each, independently, selected from —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —SC(O)—, —C(O)S—, —OC(S)—, —C(S)O—, —S—S—, —C(R 5 )═N—, —N═C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )═N—O—, —O—N═C(R 5 )—, —C(O)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —C(S)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —OC(O)O—, —OSi(R 5 ) 2 O—, —C(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)O—, —OC(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)—, or

(wherein R 11 is a C 2 -C 8 alkyl or alkenyl);

each occurrence of R z is, independently, C 1 -C 8 alkyl;

a is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6;

b is 0, 1, 2, or 3;

L 1 and L 2 and are each, independently, C 1 -C 5 alkylene or C 2 -C 5 alkenylene;

X and Y are each, independently, alkylene or alkenylene; and

each occurrence of Z is independently C 1 -C 4 alkyl.

15. The compound of claim 14 , wherein X and Y are C 12 -C 20 alkylene or C 12 -C 20 alkenylene.

16. The compound of claim 14 , wherein -L 1 -C(Z) 3 is —CH 2 C(CH 3 ) 3 or —CH 2 CH 2 C(CH 3 ) 3 .

17. A cationic lipid or a salt thereof having:

(i) a central carbon atom,

(ii) a nitrogen containing head group directly bound to the central carbon atom, and

(iii) two hydrophobic tails directly bound to the central carbon atom, wherein each hydrophobic tail is of the formula —R e -M-R f where R e is a C 4 -C 14 alkyl or alkenyl, M is a biodegradable group selected from —OC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —SC(O)—, —C(O)S—, —OC(S)—, —C(S)O—, —S—S—, —C(R 5 )═N—, —N═C(R 5 )—, —C(R 5 )═N—O—, —O—N═C(R 5 )—, —C(O)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —C(S)(NR 5 )—, —N(R 5 )C(O)—, —N(R 5 )C(O)N(R 5 )—, —OC(O)O—, —OSi(R 5 ) 2 O—, —C(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)O—, —OC(O)(CR 3 R 4 )C(O)—, or

(wherein R 11 is a C 2 -C 8 alkyl or alkenyl); and R f is a branched alkyl or alkenyl, such that (i) the chain length of each hydrophobic tail from the first carbon atom after the central carbon atom to a terminus of the tail is at most 20 atoms, and (ii) each hydrophobic tail has at least 20 carbon atoms, wherein

the alkyl or alkenyl group in R e is optionally substituted with one or two fluorine atoms at the alpha position to the M 1 or M 2 group; and

the alkenyl group in R f is optionally substituted with one or two fluorine atoms at the alpha position to a double bond which is between the double bond and the terminus of R f .

18. A compound selected from:

and salts thereof.

19. A compound selected from:

and salts thereof.

20. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.

21. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is in the form of a cationic lipid.

22. A lipid particle comprising a neutral lipid, a lipid capable of reducing aggregation, and a cationic lipid of claim 21 .

23. The lipid particle of claim 22 , wherein the neutral lipid is selected from DSPC, DPPC, POPC, DOPE, or SM; the lipid capable of reducing aggregation is a PEG lipid; and the lipid particle further comprises a sterol.

24. The lipid particle of claim 23 , wherein the cationic lipid is present in a mole percentage of about 20% and about 60%; the neutral lipid is present in a mole percentage of about 5% to about 25%; the sterol is present in a mole percentage of about 25% to about 55%; and the PEG lipid is PEG-DMA, PEG-DMG, or a combination thereof, and is present in a mole percentage of about 0.5% to about 15%.

25. The lipid particle of claim 22 , wherein the lipid capable of reducing aggregation is PEG-DMG.

26. The lipid particle of claim 25 , wherein the lipid particle comprises about 50 mole % of the cationic lipid, about 10% DSPC, about 38.5% cholesterol, and about 1.5% PEG-DMG (based on 100% of the lipid components in the lipid particle).

27. The lipid particle of claim 22 , further comprising an active agent.

28. The lipid particle of claim 27 , wherein the active agent is a nucleic acid selected from a plasmid, an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide, an siRNA, an antisense oligonucleotide, a microRNA, an antagomir, an aptamer, and a ribozyme.

29. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a lipid particle of claim 22 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

30. A method of modulating the expression of a target gene in a cell, comprising providing to the cell a lipid particle of claim 22 .

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the active agent is a nucleic acid is an siRNA.

32. A method of inducing an immune response in a subject, comprising providing to the subject the pharmaceutical composition of claim 29 , wherein the active agent is an immunostimulatory oligonucleotide.