Lipophosphoramidates as lipidic part of lipospermines for gene delivery.

The DNA compacting properties of polyamines (especially spermine) are well-known, hence the use of spermine as the cationic part in several synthetic DNA carriers. Here, we describe the synthesis of modified spermines, with a "lipophosphoramidate" as the lipidic part, and their use for efficient in vitro transfection. Physicochemical measurements (particle size, zeta potentials, pKa determination) and gel retardation assays were also performed. Theoretical membrane-disrupting ability was established by FRET. Taken together, our results indicate that lipophosphoramidates constitute an interesting alternative to "classical" lipidic parts of cationic lipids used as DNA carriers.