Polyfunctional cationic cytofectins, formulations and methods for

Abstract

Amine containing compounds and their use in the generation of cytofectin:polynucleotide complexes for transfection of cells, formulations, counterions, and reaction conditions for maximizing the transfection include using cationic amine compounds that have the general structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a pair of same or different lipoyl moieties selected from a group consisting of an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, or alkynoyl groups and for R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 at least two are hydroxylated, ether containing, or acyloxy containing alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups or at least one amine bonded halogen containing moiety selected from a group consisting of a halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group or a mixture of at least one halogen containing moiety selected from a group consisting of a halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group and at least one hydroxylated, ether containing, or acyloxy containing alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group, and X.sup.- is an oxyanion or halide counterion or ##STR2## wherein a, b, or d are the same or different and are from 0-10, usually between 0 and 3, preferably 0 or 1; R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are the same or different with each an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, or an alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl containing acyl group; R.sub.8, R.sub.9, or R.sub.10 are the same or different with each an alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group or halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group as long as one is halogen containing; and X.sup.- is an anion, usually an oxyanion or halide counterion.