Lipocationic polymers and uses thereof

<u>BACKGROUND</u>

0001This application claims benefit of priority to <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US62089066"><text>U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/089,066, filed December 8, 2014</text></patcit>, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

1. Field

0002The present disclosure relates generally to the fields of polymers and nanoparticles. In particular, it relates to a polymer composition which comprises a nucleic acid. More particularly, it relates to polymers produced through ring opening polymerization for the delivery of the nucleic acid.

2. Description of Related Art

0003Gene silencing via the RNA Interference (RNAi) mechanism is a promising strategy to treat major diseases including cancer, genetic disorders, and viral infections. However, the success of siRNA-based therapies has been limited by the difficulty of delivering these highly anionic biomacromolecular drugs into cells (Whitehead <i>et al.</i>, 2009). Polymers are an important class of materials for drug and nucleic acid delivery due to the versatility in constructing different nanostructures including micelles, polyplexes, dendrimers, and polymer-siRNA conjugates (Lee <i>et al.,</i> 2011 and Parmar <i>et al.,</i> 2014). The ability to control chemical functionality is an exciting feature of modern polymer science that enables precise design of drug delivery systems. Compared to lipid-based systems, the chemical and physical properties can be more extensively and precisely engineered (Tan <i>et al.,</i> 2011). Aliphatic polyesters synthesized by ring-opening polymerization including polyglycolide, polylactide, polycaprolactone, and their copolymers have been approved by the FDA in a number of products (Albertsson and Varma, 2002). But since they lack the required functional groups for siRNA binding and release, new synthetic strategies are required to prepare functionalized polyesters. To date, functionalized lactones have generally been accessed via low-yielding, multi-step synthetic pathways that often involve protecting groups, thereby limiting the scale of monomer and polymer production. As a direct consequence, it is challenging to sufficiently modulate polymer functionality to achieve effective delivery. Thus, the present disclosure employs a strategy to prepare functional lactone monomers in one step from commercially available starting materials. Furthermore, the polymerization is scalable and rapid with high monomer conversion that enabled the synthesis and screening of a variety of copolymer compositions and led to the discovery of optimal delivery materials.

0004Ring-opening polymerization of functional monomers has emerged as the most versatile method to prepare clinically translatable degradable polyesters (Jerome and Lecomte, 2008, Pounder and Dove, 2010 and Tian <i>et al.,</i> 2012). A variety of functional groups have been introduced into lactones; however, the direct polymerization of tertiary amine functionalized cyclic esters has remained elusive. Numerous studies of lipids and nondegradable polymers have implicated tertiary amines and alkyl chains as key functional groups for effective siRNA delivery (Akincw <i>et al.,</i> 2008, Love <i>et al.,</i> 2010, Siegwart <i>et al.,</i> 2011, Jayaraman <i>et al.,</i> 2012., Scholz and Wagner, 2012 and Nelson <i>et al.,</i> 2013). Yet, their potential incapability with esters has made direct synthesis of degradable polymers with amino groups challenging. One strategy to overcome this issue has been to utilize step-growth polymerization. For example, poly(β-amino ester)s, (Lynn and Langer, 2000, Zugates <i>et al.,</i> 2006 and Green <i>et al.,</i> 2008) poly(4-hydroxy-L-proline ester), poly(D-glucaramidoamine), and cationic cyclodextrin-based polymers (Davis <i>et al.,</i> 2010) have been synthesized either directly or by post-polymerization modification. Additional polymers are known in the literature (Jerome and Lecomte, 2008, Pounder and Dove, 2010, Tian <i>et al.,</i> 2012, Tan <i>et al.,</i> 2011, Albertsson and Varma, 2002, Green <i>et al.,</i> 2008, Kanasty <i>et al.,</i> 2013 and Hao <i>et al.,</i> 2013). However, these methods do not offer control over molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. Direct synthesis using controlled chain growth polymerization methods offers greater control over polymer composition and the ability to make block copolymers. Other cationic polymers, such as polyethyleneimine (Philipp <i>et al.,</i> 2009, Schroeder <i>et al.,</i> 2012, Dahlman <i>et al.,</i> 2014) and polylysine, have been widely used as nucleic acid carriers; however, application of these materials to <i>in vivo</i> disease models is often limited by their cytotoxicity and non-degradability. Since incorporating biodegradability will improve biocompatibility and facilitate elimination of materials used in biomedical applications, the development of degradable polymer-based siRNA delivery systems represents an important goal. As such, the development of a polymer containing the desired functional groups such as tertiary amines and alkyl groups is of particular interest.

<u>SUMMARY</u>

0005In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a polymer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0001" num="0001"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0001.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: X₁ is alkyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkyl_(C≤18); X₂ is hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤18), or substituted alkyl_(C≤18); R₁ is -A-Z; wherein: A is an alkanediyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤18); Z is -NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤18), substituted alkyl_(C≤18); or R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤18); R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24), alkenyl_(C≤24), substituted alkyl_(C≤24), or substituted alkenyl_(C≤24); x and y are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; m and n are each independently an integer between 0 and 250, provided that at least one of m and n is greater than 1; and the repeating unit defined by m and n are randomly distributed throughout the polymer; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some embodiments, A is -CH₂CH₂-. In some embodiments, Z is -NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently alkyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkyl_(C≤18). In some embodiments, R₃ is alkyl_(C≤18). In some embodiments, R₃ is methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl. In some embodiments, R₄ is alkyl_(C≤18). In some embodiments, R₄ is methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl. In some embodiments, Z is - NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤18). In some embodiments, R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are -CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-, -CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-. In some embodiments, X₁ is alkyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkyl_(C≤18). In some embodiments, X₁ is alkyl_(C≤6) or substituted alkyl_(C≤6). In some embodiments, X₁ is methyl. In some embodiments, X₂ is hydrogen. In some embodiments, R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24). In some embodiments, R₂ is butyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, or octadecyl. In some embodiments, x is 1. In some embodiments, y is 1. In some embodiments, m is an integer between 1 and 100. In some embodiments, m is an integer between 1 and 50. In some embodiments, m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20. In some embodiments, n is an integer between 1 and 100. In some embodiments, n is an integer between 1 and 50. In some embodiments, n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20. In some embodiments, the polymer comprises a molar ratio of the m repeating unit and the n repeating unit between about 10:1 to about 1:10. In some embodiments, the molar ratio between the m repeating unit and the n repeating unit is between about 5:1 to about 1:5. In some embodiments, the molar ratio is 3:1, 1:1, or 1:3. In some embodiments, the polymer has an average molecular weight from about 1,000 to about 100,000 as measured by gel permeation chromatography. In some embodiments, the average molecular weight is about 2,000 to about 10,000.

0006In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a nanoparticle composition comprising: <ol id="ol0001" compact="compact"><li>(A) a polymer of the present disclosure; and</li><li>(B) a nucleic acid.</li></ol> In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a short (small) interfering RNA (siRNA), a microRNA (miRNA), a messenger RNA (mRNA), a cluster regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), a plasmid DNA (pDNA), a double stranded DNA (dsDNA), a single stranded DNA (ssDNA), a single stranded RNA (ssRNA), a double stranded RNA (dsRNA), a locked nucleic acid (LNA), a peptide nucleic acid (PNA), a miRNA mimic, or a anti-miRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a siRNA. In some embodiments, the siRNA is a siRNA against Factor VII. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a steroid or steroid derivative. In some embodiments, steroid derivative is a sterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is cholesterol. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a phospholipid. In some embodiments, the phospholipid is a phosphatidylcholine. In some embodiments, the phospholipid is distearoylphosphatidylcholine. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a PEG lipid. In some embodiments, the PEG lipid is a PEGylated diacylglycerol. In some embodiments, the PEG lipid is PEGylated dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol. In some embodiments, the PEG lipid is: <chemistry id="chem0002" num="0002"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0002.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: n₁ is an integer from 1 to 250; and n₂ and n₃ are each independently selected from 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23. In some embodiments, n₁ is 5 to 100. In some embodiments, n₁ is 45. In some embodiments, n₂ is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17. In some embodiments, n₂ is 15. In some embodiments, n₃ is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17. In some embodiments, n₃ is 15. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a ratio of polymer to steroid to phospholipid to PEG lipid from about 25:15:57:3 to about 75:5:19:1. In some embodiments, the ratio of polymer to steroid to phospholipid to PEG lipid is from about 50:10:30:10 to about 50:10:39.9:0.1. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a ratio of polymer to nucleic acid from about 5:1 to about 500:1. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a ratio from about 10:1 to about 100:1. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a ratio of about 23:1 or about 100:1.

0007In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of preparing a nanoparticle composition comprising: <ol id="ol0002"><li>(A) admixing a polymer of the present disclosure in an alcohol_(C≤12) to form a nanoparticle; and</li><li>(B) admixing a nucleic acid in a buffer to the nanoparticle of step (A) to form a nanoparticle composition.</li></ol> In some embodiments, the buffer has a pH less than 6. In some embodiments, the buffer has a pH less than 5. In some embodiments, the buffer has a pH of 4.2. In some embodiments, the method further comprises diluting the nanoparticle composition with a second buffer to increase the pH. In some embodiments, the pH is increased to physiological pH. In some embodiments, the second buffer is phosphate buffered saline. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a short (small) interfering RNA (siRNA), a microRNA (miRNA), a messenger RNA (mRNA), a cluster regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), a plasmid DNA (pDNA), a double stranded DNA (dsDNA), a single stranded DNA (ssDNA), a single stranded RNA (ssRNA), a double stranded RNA (dsRNA), a locked nucleic acid (LNA), a peptide nucleic acid (PNA), a miRNA mimic, or a anti-miRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a siRNA. In some embodiments, the siRNA is a siRNA against Factor VII. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a steroid or steroid derivative. In some embodiments, the steroid derivative is a sterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is cholesterol. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a phospholipid. In some embodiments, the phospholipid is a phosphatidylcholine containing lipid. In some embodiments, the phospholipid is distearoylphosphatidylcholine. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a PEG lipid. In some embodiments, the PEG lipid is a PEGylated diacylglycerol. In some embodiments, the PEG lipid is PEGylated dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol. In some embodiments, the PEG lipid is: <chemistry id="chem0003" num="0003"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0003.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: n₁ is an integer from 1 to 250; and n₂ and n₃ are each independently selected from 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23. In some embodiments, n₁ is 5 to 100. In some embodiments, n₁ is 45. In some embodiments, n₂ is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17. In some embodiments, n₂ is 15. In some embodiments, n₃ is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17. In some embodiments, n₃ is 15. In some embodiments, the composition comprises a ratio of polymer to steroid to phospholipid to PEG lipid from about 25:15:57:3 to about 75:5:19:1. In some embodiments, the ratio of polymer to steroid to phospholipid to PEG lipid is from about 50:10:30:10 to about 50:10:39.9:0.1. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle composition comprises a ratio of polymer to nucleic acid from about 5:1 to about 500:1. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle composition comprises a ratio from about 10:1 to about 100:1. In some embodiments, the nanoparticle composition comprises a ratio of about 23:1 or about 100:1.

0008In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a nanoparticle composition prepared by the methods of the present disclosure.

0009In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition composing a polymer or composition of the present disclosure and an excipient. In some embodiments, the composition is formulated for administration: orally, intraadiposally, intraarterially, intraarticularly, intracranially, intradermally, intralesionally, intramuscularly, intranasally, intraocularly, intrapericardially, intraperitoneally, intrapleurally, intraprostatically, intrarectally, intrathecally, intratracheally, intratumorally, intraumbilically, intravaginally, intravenously, intravesicularlly, intravitreally, liposomally, locally, mucosally, parenterally, rectally, subconjunctival, subcutaneously, sublingually, topically, transbuccally, transdermally, vaginally, in crèmes, in lipid compositions, via a catheter, via a lavage, via continuous infusion, via infusion, via inhalation, via injection, via local delivery, or via localized perfusion.

0010In still another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of silencing gene expression comprising contacting a composition comprising a nucleic acid of the present disclosure with a cell comprising said gene. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a siRNA. In some embodiments, the cell is contacted <i>in vitro.</i> In some embodiments, the cell is contacted <i>in vivo.</i>

0011In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of treating or preventing a disease or disorder comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition of the present disclosure. The disease or disorder is a disease or disorder associated with an overexpression of one or more genes. In some embodiments, the composition is administered once. In some embodiments, the composition is administered two or more times. In some embodiments, the composition is administered intravenously. In some embodiments, the disease or disorder is associated with overexpression of the genes for Factor VII.

0012In still another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of preparing a polymer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0004" num="0004"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0004.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: X₁ and X₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), or substituted alkyl_(C≤12); R₁ is -A-Z; wherein: A is an alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkaned_lyl_(C≤12); Z is -NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), substituted alkyl_(C≤12); or R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkaned_lyl_(C≤12); R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24), alkenyl_(C≤24), substituted alkyl_(C≤24), or substituted alkenyl_(C≤24); x and y are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; and m and n are each independently an integer between 0 and 250, provided that at least one of m and n is greater than 1; and the repeating unit defined by m and n are randomly distributed throughout the polymer; comprising reacting a first monomer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0005" num="0005"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0005.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: R₁ is -A-Z; wherein: A is an alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤12); Z is - NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), substituted alkyl_(C≤12); or R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkaned_lyl_(C≤12); x is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; with a second monomer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0006" num="0006"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0006.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24), alkenyl_(C≤24), substituted alkyl_(C≤24), or substituted alkenyl_(C≤24); and y is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; in the presence of a base. In some embodiments, the base is an alkyllithium reagent. In some embodiments, the base is methyl lithium. In some embodiments, the base is a Grignard reagent. In some embodiments, the base is methyl Grignard. In some embodiments, the method comprises running the reaction in bulk reactant and no solvent. In some embodiments, the method further comprises a solvent. In some embodiments, the solvent is toluene, anisole, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, chloroform, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, and tetrahydrofuran. In some embodiments, the method comprises reacting for a time period from about 30 seconds to about 1 hour. In some embodiments, the time period is about 2 minutes. In some embodiments, the method comprises a conversion rate greater than 50%. In some embodiments, the conversion rate is greater than 80%. In some embodiments, the polymer has a purity of greater than 80%. In some embodiments, the purity is greater than 95%.

0013In still another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of preparing a polymer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0007" num="0007"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0007.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: X₁ and X₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), or substituted alkyl_(C≤12); R₁ is -A-Z; wherein: A is an alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkaned_lyl_(C≤12); Z is -NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), substituted alkyl_(C≤12); or R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkaned_lyl_(C≤12); R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24), alkenyl_(C≤24), substituted alkyl_(C≤24), or substituted alkenyl_(C≤24); x and y are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; and m and n are each independently an integer between 0 and 250; provided that either m or n is 0; and the repeating unit defined by m and n are randomly distributed throughout the polymer; comprising reacting a monomer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0008" num="0008"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0008.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: R₁ is -A-Z; wherein: A is an alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkaned_lyl_(C≤12); Z is - NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), substituted alkyl_(C≤12); or R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkaned_lyl_(C≤12); x is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; or a monomer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0009" num="0009"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0009.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24), alkenyl_(C≤24), substituted alkyl_(C≤24), or substituted alkenyl_(C≤24); and y is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; in the presence of a base.

0014In still another aspect, the present disclosure provides a composition consisting essentially of: <ol id="ol0003"><li>(A) a polymer of the present disclosure; and</li><li>(B) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

0015In still another aspect, the present disclosure provides a composition consisting essentially of: <ol id="ol0004"><li>(A) a polymer of the present disclosure;</li><li>(B) a PEG lipid; and</li><li>(C) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

0016In still another aspect, the present disclosure provides a composition consisting essentially of: <ol id="ol0005"><li>(A) a polymer of the present disclosure;</li><li>(B) a PEG lipid;</li><li>(C) a steroid or steroid derivative; and</li><li>(D) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

0017In still another aspect, the present disclosure provides a composition consisting essentially of: <ol id="ol0006"><li>(A) a polymer of the present disclosure;</li><li>(B) a PEG lipid;</li><li>(C) a steroid or steroid derivative;</li><li>(D) a phospholipid; and</li><li>(E) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

0018It is contemplated that any method or composition described herein can be implemented with respect to any other method or composition described herein.

0019The terms "comprise" (and any form of comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any form of have, such as "has" and "having"), "contain" (and any form of contain, such as "contains" and "containing"), and "include" (and any form of include, such as "includes" and "including") are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method, composition, kit, or system that "comprises," "has," "contains," or "includes" one or more recited steps or elements possesses those recited steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those steps or elements; it may possess (<i>i.e.</i>, cover) elements or steps that are not recited. Likewise, an element of a method, composition, kit, or system that "comprises," "has," "contains," or "includes" one or more recited features possesses those features, but is not limited to possessing only those features; it may possess features that are not recited.

0020Any embodiment of any of the present methods, composition, kit, and systems may consist of or consist essentially of-rather than comprise/include/contain/have-the described steps and/or features. Thus, in any of the claims, the term "consisting of" or "consisting essentially of" may be substituted for any of the open-ended linking verbs recited above, in order to change the scope of a given claim from what it would otherwise be using the open-ended linking verb.

0021The use of the term "or" in the claims is used to mean "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and "and/or."

0022Throughout this application, the term "about" is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device or method being employed to determine the value.

0023Following long-standing patent law, the words "a" and "an," when used in conjunction with the word "comprising" in the claims or specification, denotes one or more, unless specifically noted.

0024As used in this application, the term "average molecular weight" refers to the relationship between the number of moles of each polymer species and the molar mass of that species. In particular, each polymer molecule may have different levels of polymerization and thus a different molar mass. The average molecular weight can be used to represent the molecular weight of a plurality of polymer molecules. Average molecular weight is typically synonymous with average molar mass. In particular, there are three major types of average molecular weight: number average molar mass, weight (mass) average molar mass, and Z-average molar mass. In the context of this application, unless otherwise specified, the average molecular weight represents either the number average molar mass or weight average molar mass of the formula. In some embodiments, the average molecular weight is the number average molar mass. In some embodiments, the average molecular weight may be used to describe a PEG component present in a lipid.

0025Other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

<u>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS</u>

0026The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

0027The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present disclosure. The disclosure may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein. <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001"><b>FIG. 1A</b></figref><b>&amp;</b><figref idref="f0002"><b>1B</b></figref> shows the different monomers and ratios of the amino containing monomer and alkyl containing monomer components in the polymer. As used herein, the amino containing monomer is identified by a letter as noted on the left side of the figure and the identity of the alkyl containing monomer and the ratio of the two monomers is identified by a number. The number "0" which is not shown indicates a homopolymer of either the alkyl or amino containing monomer.</li><li><figref idref="f0003 f0004"><b>FIG. 2</b></figref> shows the conversion percentage of the polymerization reaction for each monomer compositions.</li><li><figref idref="f0005"><b>FIG. 3</b></figref> shows the average molecular weight of the polymer for the composition containing the dimethylamino and diethylamino functional groups.</li><li><figref idref="f0006 f0007"><b>FIGS. 4A-4D</b></figref> show (<figref idref="f0006">FIG. 4A</figref>) Representative scheme of polymeric nanoparticle composition. (<figref idref="f0006">FIG. 4B</figref>) Cellular internalization of Cy5.5-siRNA loaded A7 NPs (red) after 3hr of incubation in HeLa-Luc cells. The cell membrane was stained with CellMask (green). (<figref idref="f0007">FIG. 4C</figref>) Particle size distribution measured by DLS and (<figref idref="f0007">FIG. 4D</figref>) TEM image obtained for formulated NP A7.</li><li><figref idref="f0008 f0009 f0010"><b>FIG. 5</b></figref> shows the relative <i>in vitro</i> luciferase activity (bar graph) in luciferase expressing HeLa cells for each nanoparticle composition comprising a polymer with one of the specific monomer combination and a luciferase inhibiting siRNA. Additionally, the graph also shows cellular viability when treated with each nanoparticle (point markers).</li><li><figref idref="f0011"><b>FIG. 6</b></figref> shows a heat map relating the polymer's monomer composition to the efficacy of the nanoparticle in inhibiting <i>in vitro</i> luciferase expression in HeLa cells.</li><li><figref idref="f0012"><b>FIGS. 7</b></figref> shows a dose-response of silencing in Hela-Luc cells for several polymers as a function of luciferase activity. The dose scale is 6.25 ng (2.4 nM), 12.5 ng (4.8 nM), 25 ng (9.6 nM), 50 ng (19.2 nM), and 100 ng (38.4 nM) going from left to right. Bars represent relative luciferase activity, while dots represent cell viability. Results were normalized to untreated cells (n=4). A7 (2:2) vs. RNAiMax: ^∗∗∗∗<i>P</i> &lt; 0.0001.</li><li><figref idref="f0013"><b>FIG. 8</b></figref> shows the cellular uptake of formulated Cy5.5-siLuc containing nanoparticles. The NPs are red and the cell membrane is green (Cell Mask Orange).</li><li><figref idref="f0014 f0015"><b>FIG. 9</b></figref> shows the expression of Factor VII in liver hepatocytes when treated with a nanoparticle containing polymer A7 and a siRNA against Factor VII.</li><li><figref idref="f0014 f0015 f0016"><b>FIGS. 10A-10C</b></figref> show <b>(</b><figref idref="f0014 f0015"><b>FIG. 10A</b></figref>) A1 NPs provided effective accumulation in tumor xenografts after IV injection. A representative mouse is shown from three angles. Luciferase silencing was measured in tumors 24 hours after injection by <b>(</b><figref idref="f0016"><b>FIG. 10B</b></figref><b>)</b> bioluminescence imaging or <b>(</b><figref idref="f0016"><b>FIG. 10C</b></figref>) in tissue lysates normalized against total protein level or total tissue amount (n=4; ^∗<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05).</li><li><figref idref="f0017"><b>FIG. 11</b></figref> shows the organ distribution of siRNA-containing polymeric NPs 2.5 hours after IV injection. The MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing mice were injected intravenously at a siRNA dose of 2.5 mg/kg. A1 NPs (A1:cholesterol:DSPC:PEG-lipid = 50:35:10:5; polymer:siRNA = 20:1 (weight); aqueous:EtOH = 3:1 (volume)).</li><li><figref idref="f0018"><b>FIGS. 12A-12B</b></figref> shows the tumor retention of siRNA-containing polymeric NPs 5 minutes <b>(</b><figref idref="f0018"><b>FIG. 12A</b></figref><b>)</b> and 48 hours <b>(</b><figref idref="f0018"><b>FIG. 12B</b></figref><b>)</b> after IT injection. The MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing mice were injected intratumorally at a siRNA dose of 2.5 mg/kg. = 50:35:10:5; polymer:siRNA = 20:1 (weight); aqueous:EtOH = 3:1 (volume).</li><li><figref idref="f0019"><b>FIG. 13</b></figref> shows the nanoparticle size can be controlled by mixing rations and conditions. DLS results for A7 NPs with different ratio of components (n=5) (mean ± SEM). Within groups of fixed polymer:siRNA (wt) ratios, the size decreased when increasing the PEG-lipid amount. NPs were prepared using the NanoAssemblr. Ethanol solutions of polymers, DSPC, cholesterol, and PEG lipid were rapidly combined with acidic solutions of siRNA. The ratio of aqueous:EtOH was 3:1 (volume) and the flow rate was 12 mL/minute.</li><li><figref idref="f0019"><b>FIG. 14</b></figref> shows the siRNA binding results for NPs used in <i>in vivo</i> experiments (siLuc and siControl). A1 NPs (A1:cholesterol:DSPC:PEG-lipid = 50:35:10:5; polymer:siRNA = 20:1 (weight); aqueous:EtOH = 3:1 (volume)).</li><li><figref idref="f0019"><b>FIG. 15</b></figref> shows the siRNA NP DLS sizing result. 5 runs of the same sample were performed and overlaid. A1 NPs (A1:cholesterol:DSPC:PEG-lipid = 50:35:10:5; polymer:siRNA = 20:1 (weight); aqueous:EtOH = 3:1 (volume)).</li><li><figref idref="f0020"><b>FIGS. 16A</b> &amp; <b>16B</b></figref> show the GPC trace <b>(</b><figref idref="f0020"><b>FIG. 16A</b></figref><b>)</b> and photograph of polymerization mixture of viscous polymer A6 synthesized on 1+ gram scale <b>(</b><figref idref="f0020"><b>FIG. 16B</b></figref><b>).</b></li><li><figref idref="f0020"><b>FIG. 17</b></figref> shows the degradation study on C7 to confirm hydrolysis of ester bonds in polymer backbone. MW was measured before degradation and after 24 hours.</li><li><figref idref="f0021"><b>FIG. 18</b></figref> shows the pH titrations were performed to measure the pKa of a polymer series (A7, B7, C7, and D7).</li><li><figref idref="f0022"><b>FIGS. 19A</b></figref><b>&amp;</b><figref idref="f0023"><b>19B</b></figref> show GPC traces of top performing polymers using DMF line <b>(</b><figref idref="f0022"><b>FIG. 19A</b></figref><b>)</b> and the THF line <b>(</b><figref idref="f0023"><b>FIG. 19B</b></figref><b>).</b> Tailing at low MW side is due to amine interactions with the column (no base was added to the THF mobile phase).</li></ul>

<u>DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS</u>

0028The present disclosure provides a series of lipocationic polyester polymers prepared by a method which allows rapid access to the polymers without a complicated synthetic pathway and the use of protecting groups. In some aspects, these polymers may be used for highly effective short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> at low doses.

0029In one aspect, the present disclosure provides degradable lipocationic polyesters that are directly synthesized from tertiary amine bearing valerolactone and alkylated valerolactone monomers via ring-opening polymerization. Using this methodology, thiol modified monomers may be used to create a library of polymers. In this methodology, in some embodiments, initiation with an alkyllithium reagent, such as methyl lithium, promoted rapid polymerization with high monomer conversion (>90%) and decent control over molecular weight. Furthermore, in some embodiments, because functional monomers were polymerized directly, fully functional polymers could be synthesized with quantifiable monomer incorporation. Thus, in some embodiments, cationic and hydrophobic moieties were incorporated at precise ratios, which allows the material composition to be finely tuned and structures correlated with siRNA delivery activity. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a siRNA-containing nanoparticles that could be stable and active <i>in vivo</i> and methods of preparing these nanoparticles. In some embodiments, formulated polymer nanoparticles exhibited high delivery efficiencies <i>in vitro,</i> enabling >95% knockdown for the top performing material at an siRNA dose of 10 nM. Additionally, in some embodiments, lipocationic polyester NPs also mediate potent gene knockdown in liver hepatocytes after IV administration to mice with siRNA EC₅₀ values as low as 1 mg/kg. In some embodiments, high throughput screening of the library reveals a strong correlation between delivery efficiency and chemical structure.

A. CHEMICAL DEFINTIONS

0030The polymers provided by the present disclosure are shown, for example, above in the summary section and in the claims below. They may be made using the methods outlined in the Examples section. These methods can be further modified and optimized using the principles and techniques of organic chemistry as applied by a person skilled in the art. Such principles and techniques are taught, for example, in <nplcit id="ncit0001" npl-type="s"><text>March's Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure (2007</text></nplcit>), which is incorporated by reference herein.

0031Polymers described herein may contain one or more asymmetrically-substituted carbon or nitrogen atoms, and may be isolated in optically active or racemic form. Thus, all chiral, diastereomeric, racemic form, epimeric form, and all geometric isomeric forms of a chemical formula are intended, unless the specific stereochemistry or isomeric form is specifically indicated. Compounds may occur as racemates and racemic mixtures, single enantiomers, diastereomeric mixtures and individual diastereomers. In some embodiments, a single diastereomer is obtained. The chiral centers of the polymers of the present disclosure can have the S or the R configuration.

0032Polymers of the invention may also have the advantage that they may be more efficacious than, be less toxic than, be longer acting than, be more potent than, produce fewer side effects than, be more easily absorbed than, and/or have a better pharmacokinetic profile (e.g., higher oral bioavailability and/or lower clearance) than, and/or have other useful pharmacological, physical, or chemical properties over, compounds known in the prior art, whether for use in the indications stated herein or otherwise.

0033In addition, atoms making up the polymer of the present disclosure are intended to include all isotopic forms of such atoms. Isotopes, as used herein, include those atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers. By way of general example and without limitation, isotopes of hydrogen include tritium and deuterium, and isotopes of carbon include ¹³C and ¹⁴C.

0034It should be recognized that the particular anion or cation forming a part of any salt form of a polymer provided herein is not critical, so long as the salt, as a whole, is pharmacologically acceptable. Additional examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts and their methods of preparation and use are presented in <nplcit id="ncit0002" npl-type="s"><text>Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts: Properties, and Use (2002</text></nplcit>), which is incorporated herein by reference.

0035When used in the context of a chemical group: "hydrogen" means -H; "hydroxy" means -OH; "oxo" means =O; "carbonyl" means -C(=O)-; "carboxy" means -C(=O)OH (also written as -COOH or -CO₂H); "halo" means independently -F, -Cl, -Br or -I; "amino" means -NH₂; "hydroxyamino" means -NHOH; "nitro" means -NO₂; imino means =NH; "cyano" means -CN; "isocyanate" means -N=C=O; "azido" means -N₃; in a monovalent context "phosphate" means -OP(O)(OH)₂ or a deprotonated form thereof; in a divalent context "phosphate" means -OP(O)(OH)O- or a deprotonated form thereof; "mercapto" means -SH; and "thio" means =S; "sulfonyl" means -S(O)₂-; and "sulfinyl" means -S(O)-.

0036In the context of chemical formulas, the symbol "-" means a single bond, "=" means a double bond, and "≡" means triple bond. The symbol "----" represents an optional bond, which if present is either single or double. The symbol "<img file="EP4088741A1_D0010.tif" /> " represents a single bond or a double bond. Thus, for example, the formula <chemistry id="chem0010" num="0010"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0011.tif" /></chemistry> includes <chemistry id="chem0011" num="0011"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0012.tif" /></chemistry> and <chemistry id="chem0012" num="0012"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0013.tif" /></chemistry> And it is understood that no one such ring atom forms part of more than one double bond. Furthermore, it is noted that the covalent bond symbol "-", when connecting one or two stereogenic atoms, does not indicate any preferred stereochemistry. Instead, it cover all stereoisomers as well as mixtures thereof. The symbol "<img file="EP4088741A1_D0014.tif" /> ", when drawn perpendicularly across a bond (<i>e.g</i>.,<img file="EP4088741A1_D0015.tif" /> CH₃ for methyl) indicates a point of attachment of the group. It is noted that the point of attachment is typically only identified in this manner for larger groups in order to assist the reader in unambiguously identifying a point of attachment. The symbol "<img file="EP4088741A1_D0016.tif" /> " means a single bond where the group attached to the thick end of the wedge is "out of the page." The symbol "<img file="EP4088741A1_D0017.tif" /> " means a single bond where the group attached to the thick end of the wedge is "into the page". The symbol "<img file="EP4088741A1_D0018.tif" /> " means a single bond where the geometry around a double bond (<i>e.g.,</i> either <i>E</i> or <i>Z</i>) is undefined. Both options, as well as combinations thereof are therefore intended. Any undefined valency on an atom of a structure shown in this application implicitly represents a hydrogen atom bonded to that atom. A bold dot on a carbon atom indicates that the hydrogen attached to that carbon is oriented out of the plane of the paper.

0037When a group "R" is depicted as a "floating group" on a ring system, for example, in the formula: <chemistry id="chem0013" num="0013"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0019.tif" /></chemistry> then R may replace any hydrogen atom attached to any of the ring atoms, including a depicted, implied, or expressly defined hydrogen, so long as a stable structure is formed. When a group "R" is depicted as a "floating group" on a fused ring system, as for example in the formula: <chemistry id="chem0014" num="0014"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0020.tif" /></chemistry> then R may replace any hydrogen attached to any of the ring atoms of either of the fused rings unless specified otherwise. Replaceable hydrogens include depicted hydrogens (<i>e.g.,</i> the hydrogen attached to the nitrogen in the formula above), implied hydrogens (<i>e.g.,</i> a hydrogen of the formula above that is not shown but understood to be present), expressly defined hydrogens, and optional hydrogens whose presence depends on the identity of a ring atom (<i>e.g.,</i> a hydrogen attached to group X, when X equals -CH-), so long as a stable structure is formed. In the example depicted, R may reside on either the 5-membered or the 6-membered ring of the fused ring system. In the formula above, the subscript letter "y" immediately following the group "R" enclosed in parentheses, represents a numeric variable. Unless specified otherwise, this variable can be 0, 1, 2, or any integer greater than 2, only limited by the maximum number of replaceable hydrogen atoms of the ring or ring system.

0038For the groups and classes below, the number of carbon atoms in the group is as indicated as follows: "Cn" defines the exact number (n) of carbon atoms in the group/class. "C≤n" defines the maximum number (n) of carbon atoms that can be in the group/class, with the minimum number as small as possible for the group in question, e.g., it is understood that the minimum number of carbon atoms in the group "alkenyl_(C≤8)" or the class "alkene_(C≤8)" is two. Compare with "alkoxy_(c≤10)", which designates alkoxy groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Also compare "phosphine_(C≤10)" which designates phosphine groups having from 0 to 10 carbon atoms. "Cn-n'" defines both the minimum (n) and maximum number (n') of carbon atoms in the group. Thus, "alkyl_(C2-10)" designates those alkyl groups having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms. Typically the carbon number indicator follows the group it modifies, is enclosed with parentheses, and is written entirely in subscript; however, the indicator may also precede the group, or be written without parentheses, without signifying any change in meaning. Thus, the terms "C5 olefin", "C5-olefin", "olefin_(C5)", and "olefin_C5" are all synonymous.

0039The term "saturated" as used herein means the compound or group so modified has no carbon-carbon double and no carbon-carbon triple bonds, except as noted below. In the case of substituted versions of saturated groups, one or more carbon oxygen double bond or a carbon nitrogen double bond may be present. And when such a bond is present, then carbon-carbon double bonds that may occur as part of keto-enol tautomerism or imine/enamine tautomerism are not precluded.

0040The term "aliphatic" when used without the "substituted" modifier signifies that the compound/group so modified is an acyclic or cyclic, but non-aromatic hydrocarbon compound or group. In aliphatic compounds/groups, the carbon atoms can be joined together in straight chains, branched chains, or non-aromatic rings (alicyclic). Aliphatic compounds/groups can be saturated, that is joined by single bonds (alkanes/alkyl), or unsaturated, with one or more double bonds (alkenes/alkenyl) or with one or more triple bonds (alkynes/alkynyl).

0041The term "alkyl" when used without the "substituted" modifier refers to a monovalent saturated aliphatic group with a carbon atom as the point of attachment, a linear or branched acyclic structure, and no atoms other than carbon and hydrogen. The groups -CH₃ (Me), -CH₂CH₃ (Et), -CH₂CH₂CH₃ (<i>n</i>-Pr or propyl), -CH(CH₃)₂ (<i>i</i>-Pr, <i>ⁱ</i>Pr or isopropyl), -CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ (<i>n</i>-Bu), -CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃ (<i>sec-</i>butyl), -CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ (isobutyl), -C(CH₃)₃ (<i>tert-butyl, t</i>-butyl, <i>t</i>-Bu or <i>^t</i>Bu), and -CH₂C(CH₃)₃ (<i>neo</i>-pentyl) are non-limiting examples of alkyl groups. The term "alkanediyl" when used without the "substituted" modifier refers to a divalent saturated aliphatic group, with one or two saturated carbon atom(s) as the point(s) of attachment, a linear or branched acyclic structure, no carbon-carbon double or triple bonds, and no atoms other than carbon and hydrogen. The groups -CH₂-(methylene), -CH₂CH₂-, -CH₂C(CH₃)₂CH₂-, and -CH₂CH₂CH₂- are non-limiting examples of alkanediyl groups. The term "alkylidene" when used without the "substituted" modifier refers to the divalent group =CRR' in which R and R' are independently hydrogen or alkyl. Non-limiting examples of alkylidene groups include: =CH₂, =CH(CH₂CH₃), and =C(CH₃)₂. An "alkane" refers to the compound H-R, wherein R is alkyl as this term is defined above. When any of these terms is used with the "substituted" modifier one or more hydrogen atom has been independently replaced by -OH, -F, -Cl, -Br, -I, -NH₂, -NO₂, -CO₂H, -CO₂CH₃, -CN, -SH, -OCH₃, -OCH₂CH₃, -C(O)CH₃, -NHCH₃, -NHCH₂CH₃, -N(CH₃)₂, -C(O)NH₂, -C(O)NHCH₃, -C(O)N(CH₃)₂, -OC(O)CH₃, -S(O)₂OH, or -S(O)₂NH₂. The following groups are non-limiting examples of substituted alkyl groups: -CH₂OH, -CH₂Cl, -CF₃, -CH₂CN, -CH₂C(O)OH, -CH₂C(O)OCH₃, -CH₂C(O)NH₂, -CH₂C(O)CH₃, -CH₂OCH₃, -CH₂OC(O)CH₃, -CH₂NH₂, -CH₂N(CH₃)₂, and -CH₂CH₂Cl. The term "haloalkyl" is a subset of substituted alkyl, in which the hydrogen atom replacement is limited to halo <i>(i.e.</i> -F, -Cl, -Br, or -I) such that no other atoms aside from carbon, hydrogen and halogen are present. The group, -CH₂Cl is a non-limiting example of a haloalkyl. The term "fluoroalkyl" is a subset of substituted alkyl, in which the hydrogen atom replacement is limited to fluoro such that no other atoms aside from carbon, hydrogen and fluorine are present. The groups -CH₂F, -CF₃, and -CH₂CF₃ are non-limiting examples of fluoroalkyl groups.

0042The term "alkenyl" when used without the "substituted" modifier refers to an monovalent unsaturated aliphatic group with a carbon atom as the point of attachment, a linear or branched acyclic structure, at least one nonaromatic carbon-carbon double bond, no carbon-carbon triple bonds, and no atoms other than carbon and hydrogen. Non-limiting examples include: -CH=CH₂ (vinyl), -CH=CHCH₃, -CH=CHCHzCH₃, -CH₂CH=CH₂ (allyl), -CH₂CH=CHCH₃, and -CH=CHCH=CH₂. The term "alkenediyl" when used without the "substituted" modifier refers to a divalent unsaturated aliphatic group, with two carbon atoms as points of attachment, a linear or branched, a linear or branched acyclic structure, at least one nonaromatic carbon-carbon double bond, no carbon-carbon triple bonds, and no atoms other than carbon and hydrogen. The groups -CH=CH-, -CH=C(CH₃)CH₂-, -CH=CHCH₂-, and -CH₂CH=CHCH₂- are non-limiting examples of alkenediyl groups. It is noted that while the alkenediyl group is aliphatic, once connected at both ends, this group is not precluded from forming part of an aromatic structure. The terms "alkene" or "olefin" are synonymous and refer to a compound having the formula H-R, wherein R is alkenyl as this term is defined above. A "terminal alkene" refers to an alkene having just one carbon-carbon double bond, wherein that bond forms a vinyl group at one end of the molecule. When any of these terms are used with the "substituted" modifier one or more hydrogen atom has been independently replaced by -OH, -F, -Cl, -Br, -I, -NH₂, -NO₂, -CO₂H, -CO₂CH₃, -CN, -SH, -OCH₃, -OCH₂CH₃, -C(O)CH₃, -NHCH₃, -NHCH₂CH₃, -N(CH₃)₂, -C(O)NH₂, -C(O)NHCH₃, -C(O)N(CH₃)₂, -OC(O)CH₃, -S(O)₂OH, or -S(O)₂NH₂. The groups -CH=CHF, -CH=CHCl and -CH=CHBr are non-limiting examples of substituted alkenyl groups.

0043A "base" in the context of this application is a compound which has a lone pair of electron that can accept a proton or a highly polarized bond such that the electron density of the bond is preferentially located on one atom. Non-limiting examples of a base can include triethylamine, a metal hydroxide, a metal alkoxide, a metal hydride, or an organometallic compound such as, but not limited to, an alkyllithium or a Grignard reagent. An alkyllithium is a compound of the formula alkyl_(C≤12)-Li. A metal alkoxide is an alkoxy group wherein the oxygen atom, which was the point of connectivity, has an extra electron and thus a negative charge which is charged balanced by the metal ion. For example, a metal alkoxide could be a sodium tert-butoxide or potassium methoxide.

0044A "repeat unit" is the simplest structural entity of certain materials, for example, frameworks and/or polymers, whether organic, inorganic or metal-organic. In the case of a polymer chain, repeat units are linked together successively along the chain, like the beads of a necklace. For example, in polyethylene, -[-CH₂CH₂-]_n-, the repeat unit is -CH₂CH₂-. The subscript "n" denotes the degree of polymerization, that is, the number of repeat units linked together. When the value for "n" is left undefined or where "n" is absent, it simply designates repetition of the formula within the brackets as well as the polymeric nature of the material. The concept of a repeat unit applies equally to where the connectivity between the repeat units extends three dimensionally, such as in metal organic frameworks, modified polymers, thermosetting polymers, etc.

0045The above definitions supersede any conflicting definition in any reference that is incorporated by reference herein. The fact that certain terms are defined, however, should not be considered as indicative that any term that is undefined is indefinite. Rather, all terms used are believed to describe the invention in terms such that one of ordinary skill can appreciate the scope and practice the present invention.

B. POLYESTERS AND RING OPENING POLYMERIZATION

0046The present disclosure provides polymers comprising monomers joined together by esters wherein the alcohol of one monomer is linked together with a carboxylic acid from the other monomer. In some aspects, the polyester polymer of the present disclosure is produced through a step growth methodology. In some embodiments, the polymerization method allows for control of the length and distribution of the monomers with the polymer. In other embodiments, the polymerization method produces a random distribution of monomers within the polymers. One polymerization method that may be used to produce the instant polymers is ring opening polymerization wherein a lactone is hydrolyzed to produce the two polymerization components (<i>e.g.</i> the alcohol and the carboxylic acid). Some non-limiting examples of other ring opening polymerizations to form polyesters are shown below: <chemistry id="chem0015" num="0015"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0021.tif" /></chemistry><chemistry id="chem0016" num="0016"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0022.tif" /></chemistry> In some embodiments, the ring opening polymerization requires the use of a promoter and/or an initiator. Without being bound by any theory, the promoter facilitates the addition of the hydroxy group to the carboxylic acid. In some embodiments, the initiator faciliates the opening of the lactone ring to produce the reactive intermediates. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a catalyst may be used to promote the ring opening polymerization. In some non-limiting examples, the polymerization may be catalyzed with cationicly, anionicly, or with a metal. In some embodiments, the polymerization methods used to produce the instant polymers are catalyzed with an anion. In some embodiments, the anion is a base with a pK_a greater than 15. In some embodiments, the pK_a is greater than 20. In some embodiments, the polymerization is catalyzed with an organometallic compound. In some embodiments, the organometallic compound is a Grignard reagent or an alkyl lithium. In some embodiments, the organometallic compound is a methyl lithium or methyl Grignard.

0047The polymers described herein may be named by a letter corresponding to one of the amine-functionalized valerolactones (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) followed by a number that signifies a combination with an alkyl-functionalized valerolactone. The number signifies the alkyl length and the composition in the feed of the copolymerization. The library consists of different combinations of the two monomer types at three different mole ratios in the feed (3:1, 2:2, and 1:3). See <figref idref="f0001">FIG. 1A</figref> for details. Alternatively, amine-functionalized valerolactones may be named by the letter N followed by a number (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, N6, N7)) and alkyl-functionalized valerolactones are named by the letter C followed by a number that corresponds to the carbon length (C4, C6, C8, C10, C12, C14). The resulting copolymers are named by a combination of the two letter codes and brackets that include the monomer feed ratio (mol:mol). For example, A1 can also be termed N1C4 (2:2). G18 can be termed N7C14 (1:3). See <figref idref="f0002">FIG. 1B</figref> for details. These are the same polymers, with alternative short hand coding nomenclature.

C. LIPIDS

0048In some aspects of the present disclosure, one or more lipids are mixed with the polymers of the instant disclosure to create a nanoparticle composition. In some embodiments, the polymers are mixed with 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 different types of lipids. It is contemplated that the polymers can be mixed with multiple different lipids of a single type. In some embodiments, the lipid could be a steroid or a steroid derivative. In other embodiments, the lipid is a PEG lipid. In other embodiments, the lipid is a phospholipid. In other embodiments, the nanoparticle composition comprises a steroid or a steroid derivative, a PEG lipid, and a phospholipid.

1. Steroids and Steroid Derivatives

0049In some aspects of the present disclosure, the polymers are mixed with one or more steroid or a steroid derivative to create a nanoparticle composition. In some embodiments, the steroid or steroid derivative comprises any steroid or steroid derivative. As used herein, in some embodiments, the term "steroid" is a class of compounds with a four ring 17 carbon cyclic structure which can further comprises one or more substitutions including alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, hydroxy groups, oxo groups, acyl groups, or a double bond between two or more carbon atoms. In one aspect, the ring structure of a steroid comprises three fused cyclohexyl rings and a fused cyclopentyl ring as shown in the formula below: <chemistry id="chem0017" num="0017"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0023.tif" /></chemistry>

0050In some embodiments, a steroid derivative comprises the ring structure above with one or more non-alkyl substitutions. In some embodiments, the steroid or steroid derivative is a sterol wherein the formula is further defined as: <chemistry id="chem0018" num="0018"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0024.tif" /></chemistry>

0051In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the steroid or steroid derivative is a cholestane or cholestane derivative. In a cholestane, the ring structure is further defined by the formula: <chemistry id="chem0019" num="0019"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0025.tif" /></chemistry>

0052As described above, a cholestane derivative includes one or more non-alkyl substitution of the above ring system. In some embodiments, the cholestane or cholestane derivative is a cholestene or cholestene derivative or a sterol or a sterol derivative. In other embodiments, the cholestane or cholestane derivative is both a cholestere and a sterol or a derivative thereof.

2. PEG or PEGylated lipid

0053In some aspects of the present disclosure, the polymers are mixed with one or more PEGylated lipids (or PEG lipid) to create a nanoparticle composition. In some embodiments, the present disclosure comprises using any lipid to which a PEG group has been attached. In some embodiments, the PEG lipid is a diglyceride which also comprises a PEG chain attached to the glycerol group. In other embodiments, the PEG lipid is a compound which contains one or more C6-C24 long chain alkyl or alkenyl group or a C6-C24 fatty acid group attached to a linker group with a PEG chain. Some non-limiting examples of a PEG lipid includes a PEG modified phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidic acid, a PEG ceramide conjugated, PEG modified dialkylamines and PEG modified 1,2-diacyloxypropan-3-amines, PEG modified diacylglycerols and dialkylglycerols. In some embodiments, PEG modified diastearoylphosphatidylethanolamine or PEG modified dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol. In some embodiments, the PEG modification is measured by the molecular weight of PEG component of the lipid. In some embodiments, the PEG modification has a molecular weight from about 100 to about 5,000. In some embodiments, the molecular weight is from about 200 to about 500 or from about 1,200 to about 3,000. Some non-limiting examples of lipids that may be used in the present disclosure are taught by <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5820873A"><text>U.S. Patent 5,820,873</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO2010141069A"><text>WO 2010/141069</text></patcit>, or <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US8450298B"><text>U.S. Patent 8,450,298</text></patcit>, which is incorporated herein by reference.

0054In another aspect, the PEG lipid has the formula: <chemistry id="chem0020" num="0020"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0026.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: n₁ is an integer between 1 and 100 and n₂ and n₃ are each independently selected from an integer between 1 and 29. In some embodiments, n₁ is 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100, or any range derivable therein. In some embodiments, n₁ is from about 30 to about 50. In some embodiments, n₂ is from 5 to 23. In some embodiments, n₂ is 11 to about 17. In some embodiments, n₃ is from 5 to 23. In some embodiments, n₃ is 11 to about 17.

3. Phospholipid

0055In some aspects of the present disclosure, the polymers are mixed with one or more phospholipids to create a nanoparticle composition. In some embodiments, any lipid which also comprises a phosphate group. In some embodiments, the phospholipid is a structure which contains one or two long chain C6-C24 alkyl or alkenyl groups, a glycerol or a sphingosine, one or two phosphate groups, and, optionally, a small organic molecule. In some embodiments, the small organic molecule is an amino acid, a sugar, or an amino substituted alkoxy group, such as choline or ethanolamine. In some embodiments, the phospholipid is a phosphatidylcholine. In some embodiments, the phospholipid is distearoylphosphatidylcholine.

D. NUCLEIC ACIDS AND NUCLEIC ACID BASED THERAPEUTIC AGENTS

1. Nucleic acids

0056In some aspects of the present disclosure, the nanoparticle compositions comprise one or more nucleic acids. In addition, it should be clear that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific nucleic acids disclosed herein. The present disclosure is not limited in scope to any particular source, sequence, or type of nucleic acid, however, as one of ordinary skill in the art could readily identify related homologs in various other sources of the nucleic acid including nucleic acids from non-human species (<i>e.g.,</i> mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, monkey, gibbon, chimp, ape, baboon, cow, pig, horse, sheep, cat and other species). It is contemplated that the nucleic acid used in the present disclosure can comprises a sequence based upon a naturally-occurring sequence. Allowing for the degeneracy of the genetic code, sequences that have at least about 50%, usually at least about 60%, more usually about 70%, most usually about 80%, preferably at least about 90% and most preferably about 95% of nucleotides that are identical to the nucleotide sequence of the naturally-occurring sequence. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid is a complementary sequence to a naturally occurring sequence, or complementary to 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% and 100%.

0057In some aspects, the nucleic acid is a sequence which silences, is complimentary to, or replaces another sequence present <i>in vivo.</i> Sequences of 17 bases in length should occur only once in the human genome and, therefore, suffice to specify a unique target sequence. Although shorter oligomers are easier to make and increase <i>in vivo</i> accessibility, numerous other factors are involved in determining the specificity of hybridization. Both binding affinity and sequence specificity of an oligonucleotide to its complementary target increases with increasing length. It is contemplated that exemplary oligonucleotides of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 or more base pairs will be used, although others are contemplated. Longer polynucleotides encoding 250, 500, 1000, 1212, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 or longer are contemplated as well.

0058The nucleic acid used herein may be derived from genomic DNA, <i>i.e.,</i> cloned directly from the genome of a particular organism. In preferred embodiments, however, the nucleic acid would comprise complementary DNA (cDNA). Also contemplated is a cDNA plus a natural intron or an intron derived from another gene; such engineered molecules are sometime referred to as "mini-genes." At a minimum, these and other nucleic acids of the present disclosure may be used as molecular weight standards in, for example, gel electrophoresis.

0059The term "cDNA" is intended to refer to DNA prepared using messenger RNA (mRNA) as template. The advantage of using a cDNA, as opposed to genomic DNA or DNA polymerized from a genomic, non- or partially-processed RNA template, is that the cDNA primarily contains coding sequences of the corresponding protein. There may be times when the full or partial genomic sequence is preferred, such as where the non-coding regions are required for optimal expression or where non-coding regions such as introns are to be targeted in an antisense strategy.

0060In some embodiments, the nucleic acid comprises one or more antisense segments which inhibits expression of a gene or gene product. Antisense methodology takes advantage of the fact that nucleic acids tend to pair with "complementary" sequences. By complementary, it is meant that polynucleotides are those which are capable of base-pairing according to the standard Watson-Crick complementarity rules. That is, the larger purines will base pair with the smaller pyrimidines to form combinations of guanine paired with cytosine (G:C) and adenine paired with either thymine (A:T) in the case of DNA, or adenine paired with uracil (A:U) in the case of RNA. Inclusion of less common bases such as inosine, 5-methylcytosine, 6-methyladenine, hypoxanthine and others in hybridizing sequences does not interfere with pairing.

0061Targeting double-stranded (ds) DNA with polynucleotides leads to triple-helix formation; targeting RNA will lead to double-helix formation. Antisense polynucleotides, when introduced into a target cell, specifically bind to their target polynucleotide and interfere with transcription, RNA processing, transport, translation and/or stability. Antisense RNA constructs, or DNA encoding such antisense RNA's, may be employed to inhibit gene transcription or translation or both within a host cell, either <i>in vitro</i> or <i>in vivo,</i> such as within a host animal, including a human subject.

0062Antisense constructs may be designed to bind to the promoter and other control regions, exons, introns or even exon-intron boundaries of a gene. It is contemplated that the most effective antisense constructs will include regions complementary to intron/exon splice junctions. Thus, it is proposed that a preferred embodiment includes an antisense construct with complementarity to regions within 50-200 bases of an intron-exon splice junction. It has been observed that some exon sequences can be included in the construct without seriously affecting the target selectivity thereof. The amount of exonic material included will vary depending on the particular exon and intron sequences used. One can readily test whether too much exon DNA is included simply by testing the constructs in vitro to determine whether normal cellular function is affected or whether the expression of related genes having complementary sequences is affected.

0063As stated above, "complementary" or "antisense" means polynucleotide sequences that are substantially complementary over their entire length and have very few base mismatches. For example, sequences of fifteen bases in length may be termed complementary when they have complementary nucleotides at thirteen or fourteen positions. Naturally, sequences which are completely complementary will be sequences which are entirely complementary throughout their entire length and have no base mismatches. Other sequences with lower degrees of homology also are contemplated. For example, an antisense construct which has limited regions of high homology, but also contains a non-homologous region (e.g., ribozyme; see below) could be designed. These molecules, though having less than 50% homology, would bind to target sequences under appropriate conditions.

0064It may be advantageous to combine portions of genomic DNA with cDNA or synthetic sequences to form a siRNA or to generate specific constructs. For example, where an intron is desired in the ultimate construct, a genomic clone will need to be used. The cDNA, siRNA, or a synthesized polynucleotide may provide more convenient restriction sites for the remaining portion of the construct and, therefore, would be used for the rest of the sequence. Other embodiments include dsRNA or ssRNA, which may be used to target genomic sequences or coding/non-coding transcripts.

0065In other embodiments, the nanoparticles may comprise a nucleic acid which comprises one or more expression vectors are used in a gene therapy. Expression requires that appropriate signals be provided in the vectors, and which include various regulatory elements, such as enhancers/promoters from both viral and mammalian sources that drive expression of the genes of interest in host cells. Elements designed to optimize messenger RNA stability and translatability in host cells also are defined. The conditions for the use of a number of dominant drug selection markers for establishing permanent, stable cell clones expressing the products are also provided, as is an element that links expression of the drug selection markers to expression of the polypeptide.

0066Throughout this application, the term "expression construct" is meant to include any type of genetic construct containing a nucleic acid coding for a gene product in which part or all of the nucleic acid encoding sequence is capable of being transcribed. The transcript may be translated into a protein, but it need not be. In certain embodiments, expression includes both transcription of a gene and translation of mRNA into a gene product. In other embodiments, expression only includes transcription of the nucleic acid encoding a gene of interest.

0067The term "vector" is used to refer to a carrier nucleic acid molecule into which a nucleic acid sequence can be inserted for introduction into a cell where it can be replicated. A nucleic acid sequence can be "exogenous," which means that it is foreign to the cell into which the vector is being introduced or that the sequence is homologous to a sequence in the cell but in a position within the host cell nucleic acid in which the sequence is ordinarily not found. Vectors include plasmids, cosmids, viruses (bacteriophage, animal viruses, and plant viruses), and artificial chromosomes (<i>e.g.,</i> YACs). One of skill in the art would be well equipped to construct a vector through standard recombinant techniques, which are described in Sambrook <i>et al.</i> (1989) and Ausubel <i>et al.</i> (1994), both incorporated herein by reference.

0068The term "expression vector" refers to a vector containing a nucleic acid sequence coding for at least part of a gene product capable of being transcribed. In some cases, RNA molecules are then translated into a protein, polypeptide, or peptide. In other cases, these sequences are not translated, for example, in the production of antisense molecules or ribozymes. Expression vectors can contain a variety of "control sequences," which refer to nucleic acid sequences necessary for the transcription and possibly translation of an operably linked coding sequence in a particular host organism. In addition to control sequences that govern transcription and translation, vectors and expression vectors may contain nucleic acid sequences that serve other functions as well and are described infra.

2. siRNA

0069As mentioned above, the present disclosure contemplates the use of one or more inhibitory nucleic acid for reducing expression and/or activation of a gene or gene product. Examples of an inhibitory nucleic acid include but are not limited to molecules targeted to an nucleic acid sequence, such as an siRNA (small interfering RNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA), double-stranded RNA, an antisense oligonucleotide, a ribozyme and molecules targeted to a gene or gene product such as an aptamer.

0070An inhibitory nucleic acid may inhibit the transcription of a gene or prevent the translation of the gene transcript in a cell. An inhibitory nucleic acid may be from 16 to 1000 nucleotides long, and in certain embodiments from 18 to 100 nucleotides long.

0071Inhibitory nucleic acids are well known in the art. For example, siRNA, shRNA and double-stranded RNA have been described in <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US6506559B"><text>U.S. Patents 6,506,559</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="US6573099B"><text>6,573,099</text></patcit>, as well as in <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="US20030051263A"><text>U.S. Patent Publications 2003/0051263</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="US20030055020A"><text>2003/0055020</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="US20040265839A"><text>2004/0265839</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0010" dnum="US20020168707A"><text>2002/0168707</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0011" dnum="US20030159161A"><text>2003/0159161</text></patcit>, and <patcit id="pcit0012" dnum="US20040064842A"><text>2004/0064842</text></patcit>, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

0072Since the discovery of RNAi by Fire and colleagues in 1998, the biochemical mechanisms have been rapidly characterized. Double stranded RNA (dsRNA) is cleaved by Dicer, which is an RNAase III family ribonuclease. This process yields siRNAs of ~21 nucleotides in length. These siRNAs are incorporated into a multiprotein RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) that is guided to target mRNA. RISC cleaves the target mRNA in the middle of the complementary region. In mammalian cells, the related microRNAs (miRNAs) are found that are short RNA fragments (~22 nucleotides). miRNAs are generated after Dicer-mediated cleavage of longer (~70 nucleotide) precursors with imperfect hairpin RNA structures. The miRNA is incorporated into a miRNA-protein complex (miRNP), which leads to translational repression of target mRNA.

0073In designing a nucleic acid capable of generating an RNAi effect, there are several factors that need to be considered such as the nature of the siRNA, the durability of the silencing effect, and the choice of delivery system. To produce an RNAi effect, the siRNA that is introduced into the organism will typically contain exonic sequences. Furthermore, the RNAi process is homology dependent, so the sequences must be carefully selected so as to maximize gene specificity, while minimizing the possibility of cross-interference between homologous, but not gene-specific sequences. Particularly the siRNA exhibits greater than 80, 85, 90, 95, 98% or even 100% identity between the sequence of the siRNA and a portion of a EphA nucleotide sequence. Sequences less than about 80% identical to the target gene are substantially less effective. Thus, the greater identity between the siRNA and the gene to be inhibited, the less likely expression of unrelated genes will be affected.

0074In addition, the size of the siRNA is an important consideration. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to siRNA molecules that include at least about 19-25 nucleotides, and are able to modulate gene expression. In the context of the present disclosure, the siRNA is particularly less than 500, 200, 100, 50, 25, or 20 nucleotides in length. In some embodiments, the siRNA is from about 25 nucleotides to about 35 nucleotides or from about 19 nucleotides to about 25 nucleotides in length.

0075To improve the effectiveness of siRNA-mediated gene silencing, guidelines for selection of target sites on mRNA have been developed for optimal design of siRNA (Soutschek <i>et al.,</i> 2004; Wadhwa <i>et al.,</i> 2004). These strategies may allow for rational approaches for selecting siRNA sequences to achieve maximal gene knockdown. To facilitate the entry of siRNA into cells and tissues, a variety of vectors including plasmids and viral vectors such as adenovirus, lentivirus, and retrovirus have been used (Wadhwa <i>et al.,</i> 2004).

0076Within an inhibitory nucleic acid, the components of a nucleic acid need not be of the same type or homogenous throughout (<i>e.g.,</i> an inhibitory nucleic acid may comprise a nucleotide and a nucleic acid or nucleotide analog). Typically, an inhibitory nucleic acid form a double-stranded structure; the double-stranded structure may result from two separate nucleic acids that are partially or completely complementary. In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the inhibitory nucleic acid may comprise only a single nucleic acid (polynucleotide) or nucleic acid analog and form a double-stranded structure by complementing with itself (<i>e.g.,</i> forming a hairpin loop). The double-stranded structure of the inhibitory nucleic acid may comprise 16-500 or more contiguous nucleobases, including all ranges derivable thereof. The inhibitory nucleic acid may comprise 17 to 35 contiguous nucleobases, more particularly 18 to 30 contiguous nucleobases, more particularly 19 to 25 nucleobases, more particularly 20 to 23 contiguous nucleobases, or 20 to 22 contiguous nucleobases, or 21 contiguous nucleobases that hybridize with a complementary nucleic acid (which may be another part of the same nucleic acid or a separate complementary nucleic acid) to form a double-stranded structure.

0077siRNA can be obtained from commercial sources, natural sources, or can be synthesized using any of a number of techniques well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, commercial sources of predesigned siRNA include Invitrogen's Stealth^™ Select technology (Carlsbad, CA), Ambion^®(Austin, TX),and Qiagen^® (Valencia, CA). An inhibitory nucleic acid that can be applied in the compositions and methods of the present disclosure may be any nucleic acid sequence that has been found by any source to be a validated downregulator of the gene or gene product.

0078In some embodiments, the disclosure features an isolated siRNA molecule of at least 19 nucleotides, having at least one strand that is substantially complementary to at least ten but no more than thirty consecutive nucleotides of a nucleic acid that encodes a gene, and that reduces the expression of a gene or gene product. In one embodiments of the present disclosure, the siRNA molecule has at least one strand that is substantially complementary to at least ten but no more than thirty consecutive nucleotides of the mRNA that encodes a gene or a gene product.

0079In one embodiments, the siRNA molecule is at least 75, 80, 85, or 90% homologous, particularly at least 95%, 99%, or 100% similar or identical, or any percentages in between the foregoing (e.g., the disclosure contemplates 75% and greater, 80% and greater, 85% and greater, and so on, and said ranges are intended to include all whole numbers in between), to at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of any of the nucleic acid sequences encoding a target therapeutic protein.

0080The siRNA may also comprise an alteration of one or more nucleotides. Such alterations can include the addition of non-nucleotide material, such as to the end(s) of the 19 to 25 nucleotide RNA or internally (at one or more nucleotides of the RNA). In certain aspects, the RNA molecule contains a 3'-hydroxyl group. Nucleotides in the RNA molecules of the present disclosure can also comprise non-standard nucleotides, including non-naturally occurring nucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides. The double-stranded oligonucleotide may contain a modified backbone, for example, phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, or other modified backbones known in the art, or may contain non-natural internucleoside linkages. Additional modifications of siRNAs (e.g., 2'-O-methyl ribonucleotides, 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro ribonucleotides, "universal base" nucleotides, 5-C-methyl nucleotides, one or more phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages, and inverted deoxyabasic residue incorporation) can be found in <patcit id="pcit0013" dnum="US20040019001A"><text>U.S. Publication 2004/0019001</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0014" dnum="US6673611B"><text>U.S. Patent 6,673,611</text></patcit> (each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety). Collectively, all such altered nucleic acids or RNAs described above are referred to as modified siRNAs.

0081In one embodiment, siRNA is capable of decreasing the expression of a particular genetic product by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, or at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, or at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95% or more or any ranges in between the foregoing.

3. Modified Nucleobases

0082In some embodiments, the nucleic acids of the present disclosure comprise one or more modified nucleosides comprising a modified sugar moiety. Such compounds comprising one or more sugar-modified nucleosides may have desirable properties, such as enhanced nuclease stability or increased binding affinity with a target nucleic acid relative to an oligonucleotide comprising only nucleosides comprising naturally occurring sugar moieties. In some embodiments, modified sugar moieties are substituted sugar moieties. In some embodiments, modified sugar moieties are sugar surrogates. Such sugar surrogates may comprise one or more substitutions corresponding to those of substituted sugar moieties.

0083In some embodiments, modified sugar moieties are substituted sugar moieties comprising one or more non-bridging sugar substituent, including but not limited to substituents at the 2' and/or 5' positions. Examples of sugar substituents suitable for the 2'-position, include, but are not limited to: 2'-F, 2'-OCH₃ ("OMe" or "O-methyl"), and 2'-O(CH₂)₂OCH₃ ("MOE"). In certain embodiments, sugar substituents at the 2' position is selected from allyl, amino, azido, thio, O-allyl, O--C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, O--C₁-C₁₀ substituted alkyl; OCF₃, O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O(CH₂)₂--O--N(Rm)(Rn), and O--CH₂--C(=O)--N(Rm)(Rn), where each Rm and Rn is, independently, H or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. Examples of sugar substituents at the 5'-position, include, but are not limited to: 5'-methyl (R or S); 5'-vinyl, and 5'-methoxy. In some embodiments, substituted sugars comprise more than one non-bridging sugar substituent, for example, T-F-5'-methyl sugar moieties (see, <i>e.g.,</i><patcit id="pcit0015" dnum="WO2008101157A"><text>PCT International Application WO 2008/101157</text></patcit>, for additional 5',2'-bis substituted sugar moieties and nucleosides).

0084Nucleosides comprising 2'-substituted sugar moieties are referred to as 2'-substituted nucleosides. In some embodiments, a 2'-substituted nucleoside comprises a 2'-substituent group selected from halo, allyl, amino, azido, SH, CN, OCN, CF₃, OCF₃, O, S, or N(R_m)-alkyl; O, S, or N(R_m)-alkenyl; O, S or N(R_m)-alkynyl; O-alkylenyl-O-alkyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl, O-aralkyl, O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O(CH₂)₂-O-N(R_m)(R_n) or O--CH₂--C(=O)-N(R_m)(R_n), where each Rm and R_n is, independently, H, an amino protecting group or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. These 2'-substituent groups can be further substituted with one or more substituent groups independently selected from hydroxyl, amino, alkoxy, carboxy, benzyl, phenyl, nitro (NO₂), thiol, thioalkoxy (S-alkyl), halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl.

0085In some embodiments, a 2'-substituted nucleoside comprises a 2'-substituent group selected from F, NH₂, N₃, OCF₃, O--CH₃, O(CH₂)₃NH₂, CH₂-CH=CH₂, O--CH₂-CH=CH₂, OCH₂CH₂OCH₃, O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O--(CH₂)₂--O--N(R_m)(R_n), O(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂, and N-substituted acetamide (O--CH₂--C(=O)--N(R_m)(R_n) where each R_m and R_n is, independently, H, an amino protecting group or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

0086In some embodiments, a 2'-substituted nucleoside comprises a sugar moiety comprising a 2'-substituent group selected from F, OCF₃, O--CH₃, OCH₂CH₂OCH₃, O(CH₂)₂SCH₃, O(CH₂)₂--O--N(CH₃)₂, --O(CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂N(CH₃)₂, and O--CH₂--C(=O)-N(H)CH₃.

0087In some embodiments, a 2'-substituted nucleoside comprises a sugar moiety comprising a 2'-substituent group selected from F, 0--CH₃, and OCH₂CH₂OCH₃.

0088Certain modified sugar moieties comprise a bridging sugar substituent that forms a second ring resulting in a bicyclic sugar moiety. In some such embodiments, the bicyclic sugar moiety comprises a bridge between the 4' and the 2' furanose ring atoms. Examples of such 4' to 2' sugar substituents, include, but are not limited to: --[C(R_a)(R_b)]_n--,-[C(R_a)(R_b)]_n--O--, --C(R_aR_b)--N(R)--O-- or, --C(R_aR_b)--O--N(R)--; 4'-CH₂-2', 4'-(CH₂)₂-2', 4'-(CH₂)-O-2' (LNA); 4'-(CH₂)--S-2'; 4'-(CH₂)₂--O-2' (ENA); 4'-CH(CH₃)--O-2' (cEt) and 4'-CH(CH₂OCH₃)--O-2', and analogs thereof (see, <i>e.g.,</i><patcit id="pcit0016" dnum="US7399845B"><text>U.S. Patent 7,399,845</text></patcit>); 4'-C(CH₃)(CH₃)--O-2' and analogs thereof, (see, <i>e.g.,</i><patcit id="pcit0017" dnum="WO2009006478A"><text>WO 2009/006478</text></patcit>); 4'-CH₂--N(OCH₃)-2' and analogs thereof (see, <i>e.g.,</i><patcit id="pcit0018" dnum="WO2008150729A"><text>WO2008/150729</text></patcit>); 4'-CH₂--O--N(CH₃)-2' (see, <i>e.g.,</i><patcit id="pcit0019" dnum="US20040171570A"><text>US2004/0171570, published Sep. 2, 2004</text></patcit>); 4'-CH₂-O-N(R)-2', and 4'-CH₂--N(R)--O-2'-, wherein each R is, independently, H, a protecting group, or C₁-C₁₂ alkyl; 4'-CH₂--N(R)--O-2', wherein R is H, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, or a protecting group (see, <patcit id="pcit0020" dnum="US7427672B"><text>U.S. Patent. 7,427,672</text></patcit>); 4'-CH₂-C(H)(CH₃)-2' (see, <i>e.g.,</i><nplcit id="ncit0003" npl-type="s"><text>Chattopadhyaya et al., J. Org. Chem., 2009, 74, 118-134</text></nplcit>); and 4'-CH₂--C(=CH₂)-2' and analogs thereof (see, <patcit id="pcit0021" dnum="WO2008154401A"><text>PCT International Application WO 2008/154401</text></patcit>).

0089In some embodiments, such 4' to 2' bridges independently comprise from 1 to 4 linked groups independently selected from --[C(R_a)(R_b)]_n--, --C(R_a)=C(R_b)--, --C(R_a)=N--,-C(=NR_a)--, --C(=O)--, --C(=S)--, --O--, --Si(R_a)₂--, --S(=O)_x--, and --N(R_a)--; wherein: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>x is 0, 1, or 2;</li><li>n is 1, 2, 3, or 4;</li><li>each R_a and R_b is, independently, H, a protecting group, hydroxyl, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₀ aryl, heterocycle radical, substituted heterocycle radical, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, C₅-C₇ alicyclic radical, substituted C₅-C₇ alicyclic radical, halogen, OJ₁, NJ₁J₂, SJ₁, N₃, COOJ₁, acyl (C(=O)--H), substituted acyl, CN, sulfonyl (S(=O)₂-J₁), or sulfoxyl (S(=O)-J₁); and</li><li>each J₁ and J₂ is, independently, H, C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, substituted C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, C₅-C₂₀ aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₀ aryl, acyl (C(=O)--H), substituted acyl, a heterocycle radical, a substituted heterocycle radical, C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂ aminoalkyl, or a protecting group.</li></ul>

0090Nucleosides comprising bicyclic sugar moieties are referred to as bicyclic nucleosides or BNAs. Bicyclic nucleosides include, but are not limited to, (A) α-L-Methyleneoxy (4'-CH₂--O-2') BNA, (B) β-D-Melhyleneoxy (4'-CH₂--O-2') BNA (also referred to as locked nucleic acid or LNA), (C) Ethyleneoxy (4'-(CH₂)₂--O-2') BNA, (D) Aminooxy (4'-CH₂--O-N(R)-2') BNA, (E) Oxyamino (4'-CH₂--N(R)--O-2') BNA, (F) Methyl(methyleneoxy) (4'-CH(CH₃)--O-2') BNA (also referred to as constrained ethyl or cEt), (G) methylene-thio (4'-CH₂--S-2') BNA, (H) methylene-amino (4'-CH2-N(R)-2') BNA, (I) methyl carbocyclic (4'-CH₂--CH(CH₃)-2') BNA, (J) propylene carbocyclic (4'-(CH₂)₃-2') BNA, and (K) Methoxy(ethyleneoxy) (4'-CH(CH₂OMe)-O-2') BNA (also referred to as constrained MOE or cMOE).

0091Additional bicyclic sugar moieties are known in the art, for example: <nplcit id="ncit0004" npl-type="s"><text>Singh et al., Chem. Commun., 1998, 4, 455-456</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0005" npl-type="s"><text>Koshkin et al., Tetrahedron, 1998, 54, 3607-3630</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0006" npl-type="s"><text>Wahlestedt et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2000, 97, 5633-5638</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0007" npl-type="s"><text>Kumar et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1998, 8, 2219-2222</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0008" npl-type="s"><text>Singh et al., J. Org. Chem., 1998, 63, 10035-10039</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0009" npl-type="s"><text>Srivastava et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129(26) 8362-8379 (Jul. 4, 2007</text></nplcit>); <nplcit id="ncit0010" npl-type="s"><text>Elayadi et al., Curr. Opinion Invens. Drugs, 2001, 2, 5561</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0011" npl-type="s"><text>Braasch et al., Chem. Biol., 2001, 8, 1-7</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0012" npl-type="s"><text>Orum et al., Curr. Opinion Mol. Ther., 2001, 3, 239-243</text></nplcit>; <patcit id="pcit0022" dnum="US7053207B"><text>U.S. Patenst 7,053,207</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0023" dnum="US6268490B"><text>6,268,490</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0024" dnum="US6770748B"><text>6,770,748</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0025" dnum="US6794499B"><text>6,794,499</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0026" dnum="US7034133B"><text>7,034,133</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0027" dnum="US6525191B"><text>6,525,191</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0028" dnum="US6670461B"><text>6,670,461</text></patcit>, and <patcit id="pcit0029" dnum="US7399845B"><text>7,399,845</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0030" dnum="WO2004106356A"><text>WO 2004/106356</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0031" dnum="WO199414226A"><text>WO 1994/14226</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0032" dnum="WO2005021570A"><text>WO 2005/021570</text></patcit>, and <patcit id="pcit0033" dnum="WO2007134181A"><text>WO 2007/134181</text></patcit>; U.S. Patent Publication Nos. <patcit id="pcit0034" dnum="US20040171570A"><text>US 2004/0171570</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0035" dnum="US20070287831A"><text>US 2007/0287831</text></patcit>, and <patcit id="pcit0036" dnum="US20080039618A"><text>US 2008/0039618</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0037" dnum="US129154"><text>U.S. Serial Nos. 12/129,154</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0038" dnum="US60989574B"><text>60/989,574</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0039" dnum="US61026995B"><text>61/026,995</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0040" dnum="US61026998B"><text>61/026,998</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0041" dnum="US61056564B"><text>61/056,564</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0042" dnum="US61086231B"><text>61/086,231</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0043" dnum="US61097787B"><text>61/097,787</text></patcit>, and <patcit id="pcit0044" dnum="US61099844B"><text>61/099,844</text></patcit>; and PCT International Applications Nos. <patcit id="pcit0045" dnum="US2008064591W"><text>PCT/US2008/064591</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0046" dnum="US2008066154W"><text>PCT/US2008/066154</text></patcit>, and <patcit id="pcit0047" dnum="US2008068922W"><text>PCT/US2008/068922</text></patcit>.

0092In some embodiments, bicyclic sugar moieties and nucleosides incorporating such bicyclic sugar moieties are further defined by isomeric configuration. For example, a nucleoside comprising a 4'-2' methylene-oxy bridge, may be in the .alpha.-L configuration or in the .beta.-D configuration. Previously, α-L-methyleneoxy (4'-CH₂--O-2') bicyclic nucleosides have been incorporated into antisense oligonucleotides that showed antisense activity (<nplcit id="ncit0013" npl-type="s"><text>Frieden et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2003, 21, 6365-6372</text></nplcit>).

0093In some embodiments, substituted sugar moieties comprise one or more non-bridging sugar substituent and one or more bridging sugar substituent (e.g., 5'-substituted and 4'-2' bridged sugars; <patcit id="pcit0048" dnum="WO2007134181A"><text>PCT International Application WO 2007/134181</text></patcit>, wherein LNA is substituted with, for example, a 5'-methyl or a 5'-vinyl group).

0094In some embodiments, modified sugar moieties are sugar surrogates. In some such embodiments, the oxygen atom of the naturally occurring sugar is substituted, e.g., with a sulfer, carbon or nitrogen atom. In some such embodiments, such modified sugar moiety also comprises bridging and/or non-bridging substituents as described above. For example, certain sugar surrogates comprise a 4'-sulfur atom and a substitution at the 2'-position (see, <i>e.g.,</i> published U.S. Patent Application <patcit id="pcit0049" dnum="US20050130923A"><text>US 2005/0130923</text></patcit>) and/or the 5' position. By way of additional example, carbocyclic bicyclic nucleosides having a 4'-2' bridge have been described (see, <i>e.g.,</i><nplcit id="ncit0014" npl-type="s"><text>Freier et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 1997, 25(22), 4429-4443</text></nplcit> and <nplcit id="ncit0015" npl-type="s"><text>Albaek et al., J. Org. Chem., 2006, 71, 7731-7740</text></nplcit>).

0095In some embodiments, sugar surrogates comprise rings having other than 5-atoms. For example, in some embodiments, a sugar surrogate comprises a six-membered tetrahydropyran. Such tetrahydropyrans may be further modified or substituted. Nucleosides comprising such modified tetrahydropyrans include, but are not limited to, hexitol nucleic acid (HNA), anitol nucleic acid (ANA), manitol nucleic acid (MNA) (see <nplcit id="ncit0016" npl-type="s"><text>Leumann, C J. Bioorg. &amp; Med. Chem. (2002) 10:841-854</text></nplcit>), and fluoro HNA (F-HNA).

0096In some embodiments, the modified THP nucleosides of Formula VII are provided wherein q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ are each H. In certain embodiments, at least one of q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ is other than H. In some embodiments, at least one of q₁, q₂, q₃, q₄, q₅, q₆ and q₇ is methyl. In some embodiments, THP nucleosides of Formula VII are provided wherein one of R₁ and R₂ is F. In certain embodiments, R₁ is fluoro and R₂ is H, R₁ is methoxy and R₂ is H, and R₁ is methoxyethoxy and R₂ is H.

0097Many other bicyclo and tricyclo sugar surrogate ring systems are also known in the art that can be used to modify nucleosides for incorporation into antisense compounds (see, <i>e.g.,</i> review article: <nplcit id="ncit0017" npl-type="s"><text>Leumann, J. C, Bioorganic &amp; Medicinal Chemistry, 2002, 10, 841-854</text></nplcit>).

0098Combinations of modifications are also provided without limitation, such as 2'-F-5'-methyl substituted nucleosides (see <patcit id="pcit0050" dnum="WO2008101157A"><text>PCT International Application WO 2008/101157</text></patcit> for other disclosed 5',2'-bis substituted nucleosides) and replacement of the ribosyl ring oxygen atom with S and further substitution at the 2'-position (see U.S. Patent Publication <patcit id="pcit0051" dnum="US20050130923A"><text>US 2005/0130923</text></patcit>) or alternatively 5'-substitution of a bicyclic nucleic acid (see <patcit id="pcit0052" dnum="WO2007134181A"><text>PCT International Application WO 2007/134181</text></patcit> wherein a 4'-CH₂--O-2' bicyclic nucleoside is further substituted at the 5' position with a 5'-methyl or a 5'-vinyl group). The synthesis and preparation of carbocyclic bicyclic nucleosides along with their oligomerization and biochemical studies have also been described (see, <i>e.g.,</i><nplcit id="ncit0018" npl-type="s"><text>Srivastava et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129(26), 8362-8379</text></nplcit>).

0099In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides oligonucleotides comprising modified nucleosides. Those modified nucleotides may include modified sugars, modified nucleobases, and/or modified linkages. The specific modifications are selected such that the resulting oligonucleotides possess desirable characteristics. In some embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise one or more RNA-like nucleosides. In some embodiments, oligonucleotides comprise one or more DNA-like nucleotides.

0100In some embodiments, nucleosides of the present disclosure comprise one or more unmodified nucleobases. In certain embodiments, nucleosides of the present disclosure comprise one or more modified nucleobases.

0101In some embodiments, modified nucleobases are selected from: universal bases, hydrophobic bases, promiscuous bases, size-expanded bases, and fluorinated bases as defined herein. 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and O-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil; 5-propynylcytosine; 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl CH₃) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-amino-adenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine, 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine, universal bases, hydrophobic bases, promiscuous bases, size-expanded bases, and fluorinated bases as defined herein. Further modified nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines such as phenoxazine cytidine([5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), phenothiazine cytidine (1H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzothiazin-2(3H)-one), G-clamps such as a substituted phenoxazine cytidine (e.g., 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-H-pyrimido[5,4-13][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), carbazole cytidine (²H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indol-2-one), pyridoindole cytidine (H-pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one). Modified nucleobases may also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in <patcit id="pcit0053" dnum="US3687808A"><text>U.S. Patent 3,687,808</text></patcit>, those disclosed in <nplcit id="ncit0019" npl-type="b"><text>The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, Kroschwitz, J. I., Ed., John Wiley &amp; Sons, 1990, 858-859</text></nplcit>; those disclosed by<nplcit id="ncit0020" npl-type="b"><text> Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613</text></nplcit>; and those disclosed by <nplcit id="ncit0021" npl-type="b"><text>Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., Eds., CRC Press, 1993, 273-288</text></nplcit>.

0102Representative United States Patents that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include without limitation, <patcit id="pcit0054" dnum="US3687808A"><text>U.S. Patents 3,687,808</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0055" dnum="US4845205A"><text>4,845,205</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0056" dnum="US5130302A"><text>5,130,302</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0057" dnum="US5134066A"><text>5,134,066</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0058" dnum="US5175273A"><text>5,175,273</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0059" dnum="US5367066A"><text>5,367,066</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0060" dnum="US5432272A"><text>5,432,272</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0061" dnum="US5457187A"><text>5,457,187</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0062" dnum="US5459255A"><text>5,459,255</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0063" dnum="US5484908A"><text>5,484,908</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0064" dnum="US5502177A"><text>5,502,177</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0065" dnum="US5525711A"><text>5,525,711</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0066" dnum="US5552540A"><text>5,552,540</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0067" dnum="US5587469A"><text>5,587,469</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0068" dnum="US5594121A"><text>5,594,121</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0069" dnum="US5596091A"><text>5,596,091</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0070" dnum="US5614617A"><text>5,614,617</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0071" dnum="US5645985A"><text>5,645,985</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0072" dnum="US5681941A"><text>5,681,941</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0073" dnum="US5750692A"><text>5,750,692</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0074" dnum="US5763588A"><text>5,763,588</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0075" dnum="US5830653A"><text>5,830,653</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0076" dnum="US6005096A"><text>6,005,096</text></patcit>, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

0103In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides oligonucleotides comprising linked nucleosides. In such embodiments, nucleosides may be linked together using any internucleoside linkage. The two main classes of internucleoside linking groups are defined by the presence or absence of a phosphorus atom. Representative phosphorus containing internucleoside linkages include, but are not limited to, phosphodiesters (P=O), phosphotriesters, methylphosphonates, phosphoramidate, and phosphorothioates (P=S). Representative non-phosphorus containing internucleoside linking groups include, but are not limited to, methylenemethylimino (--CH₂--N(CH₃)--O--CH₂--), thiodiester (--O--C(O)--S--), thionocarbamate (--O--C(O)(NH)--S--); siloxane (--O--S₁(H)₂--O--); and N,N'-dimethylhydrazine (--CH₂--N(CH₃)--N(CH₃)--). Modified linkages, compared to natural phosphodiester linkages, can be used to alter, typically increase, nuclease resistance of the oligonucleotide. In some embodiments, intemucleoside linkages having a chiral atom can be prepared as a racemic mixture, or as separate enantiomers. Representative chiral linkages include, but are not limited to, alkylphosphonates and phosphorothioates. Methods of preparation of phosphorous-containing and non-phosphorous-containing internucleoside linkages are well known to those skilled in the art.

0104The oligonucleotides described herein contain one or more asymmetric centers and thus give rise to enantiomers, diastereomers, and other stereoisomeric configurations that may be defined, in terms of absolute stereochemistry, as (R) or (S), α or β such as for sugar anomers, or as (D) or (L) such as for amino acids etc. Included in the antisense compounds provided herein are all such possible isomers, as well as their racemic and optically pure forms.

0105Neutral intemucleoside linkages include without limitation, phosphotriesters, methylphosphonates, MMI (3'-CH₂--N(CH₃)--O-5'), amide-3 (3'-CH₂--C(=O)--N(H)-5'), amide-4 (3'-CH₂--N(H)--C(=O)-5'), formacetal (3'-O--CH₂--O-5'), and thioformacetal (3'-S-CH₂--O-5'). Further neutral internucleoside linkages include nonionic linkages comprising siloxane (dialkylsiloxane), carboxylate ester, carboxamide, sulfide, sulfonate ester and amides (See for example: <nplcit id="ncit0022" npl-type="b"><text>Carbohydrate Modifications in Antisense Research; Y. S. Sanghvi and P. D. Cook, Eds., ACS Symposium Series 580; Chapters 3 and 4, 40-65</text></nplcit>). Further neutral internucleoside linkages include nonionic linkages comprising mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

0106Additional modifications may also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularly the 3' position of the sugar on the 3' terminal nucleotide and the 5' position of 5' terminal nucleotide. For example, one additional modification of the ligand conjugated oligonucleotides of the present disclosure involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more additional non-ligand moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. Such moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety (<nplcit id="ncit0023" npl-type="s"><text>Letsinger et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86, 6553</text></nplcit>), cholic acid (<nplcit id="ncit0024" npl-type="s"><text>Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 1994, 4, 1053</text></nplcit>), a thioether, <i>e.g.,</i> hexyl-5-tritylthiol (<nplcit id="ncit0025" npl-type="s"><text>Manoharan et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 1992, 660, 306</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0026" npl-type="s"><text>Manoharan et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 1993, 3, 2765</text></nplcit>), a thiocholesterol (<nplcit id="ncit0027" npl-type="s"><text>Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1992, 20, 533</text></nplcit>), an aliphatic chain, <i>e.g.,</i> dodecandiol or undecyl residues (<nplcit id="ncit0028" npl-type="s"><text>Saison-Behmoaras et al., EMBO J., 1991, 10, 111</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0029" npl-type="s"><text>Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259, 327</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0030" npl-type="s"><text>Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75, 49</text></nplcit>), a phospholipid, <i>e.g.,</i> di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (<nplcit id="ncit0031" npl-type="s"><text>Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651</text></nplcit>; <nplcit id="ncit0032" npl-type="s"><text>Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 1990, 18, 3777</text></nplcit>), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (<nplcit id="ncit0033" npl-type="s"><text>Manoharan et al., Nucleosides &amp; Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969</text></nplcit>), or adamantane acetic acid (<nplcit id="ncit0034" npl-type="s"><text>Manoharan et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651</text></nplcit>), a palmityl moiety (<nplcit id="ncit0035" npl-type="s"><text>Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1995, 1264, 229</text></nplcit>), or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety (<nplcit id="ncit0036" npl-type="s"><text>Crooke et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, 277, 923</text></nplcit>).

0107Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such oligonucleotide conjugates include, but are not limited to, <patcit id="pcit0077" dnum="US4828979A"><text>U.S. Patents 4,828,979</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0078" dnum="US4948882A"><text>4,948,882</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0079" dnum="US5218105A"><text>5,218,105</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0080" dnum="US5525465A"><text>5,525,465</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0081" dnum="US5541313A"><text>5,541,313</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0082" dnum="US5545730A"><text>5,545,730</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0083" dnum="US5552538A"><text>5,552,538</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0084" dnum="US5578717A"><text>5,578,717</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0085" dnum="US5580731A"><text>5,580,731</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0086" dnum="US5580731A"><text>5,580,731</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0087" dnum="US5591584A"><text>5,591,584</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0088" dnum="US5109124A"><text>5,109,124</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0089" dnum="US5118802A"><text>5,118,802</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0090" dnum="US5138045A"><text>5,138,045</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0091" dnum="US5414077A"><text>5,414,077</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0092" dnum="US5486603A"><text>5,486,603</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0093" dnum="US5512439A"><text>5,512,439</text></patcit>;<patcit id="pcit0094" dnum="US5578718A"><text> 5,578,718</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0095" dnum="US5608046A"><text>5,608,046</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0096" dnum="US4587044A"><text>4,587,044</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0097" dnum="US4605735A"><text>4,605,735</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0098" dnum="US4667025A"><text>4,667,025</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0099" dnum="US4762779A"><text>4,762,779</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0100" dnum="US4789737A"><text>4,789,737</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0101" dnum="US4824941A"><text>4,824,941</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0102" dnum="US4835263A"><text>4,835,263</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0103" dnum="US4876335A"><text>4,876,335</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0104" dnum="US4904582A"><text>4,904,582</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0105" dnum="US4958013A"><text>4,958,013</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0106" dnum="US5082830A"><text>5,082,830</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0107" dnum="US5112963A"><text>5,112,963</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0108" dnum="US5214136A"><text>5,214,136</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0109" dnum="US5082830A"><text>5,082,830</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0110" dnum="US5112963A"><text>5,112,963</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0111" dnum="US5214136A"><text>5,214,136</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0112" dnum="US5245022A"><text>5,245,022</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0113" dnum="US5254469A"><text>5,254,469</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0114" dnum="US5258506A"><text>5,258,506</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0115" dnum="US5262536A"><text>5,262,536</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0116" dnum="US5272250A"><text>5,272,250</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0117" dnum="US5292873A"><text>5,292,873</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0118" dnum="US5317098A"><text>5,317,098</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0119" dnum="US5371241A"><text>5,371,241</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0120" dnum="US5391723A"><text>5,391,723</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0121" dnum="US5416203A"><text>5,416,203</text></patcit>, <patcit id="pcit0122" dnum="US5451463A"><text>5,451,463</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0123" dnum="US5510475A"><text>5,510,475</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0124" dnum="US5512667A"><text>5,512,667</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0125" dnum="US5514785A"><text>5,514,785</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0126" dnum="US5565552A"><text>5,565,552</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0127" dnum="US5567810A"><text>5,567,810</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0128" dnum="US5574142A"><text>5,574,142</text></patcit>;<patcit id="pcit0129" dnum="US5585481A"><text> 5,585,481</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0130" dnum="US5587371A"><text>5,587,371</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0131" dnum="US5595726A"><text>5,595,726</text></patcit>;<patcit id="pcit0132" dnum="US5597696A"><text> 5,597,696</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0133" dnum="US5599923A"><text>5,599,923</text></patcit>;<patcit id="pcit0134" dnum="US5599928A"><text> 5,599,928</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0135" dnum="US5688941A"><text>5,688,941</text></patcit>, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

E. KITS

0108The present disclosure also provides kits. Any of the components disclosed herein may be combined in the form of a kit. In some embodiments, the kits comprise a polyester polymer or a composition as described above or in the claims.

0109The kits will generally include at least one vial, test tube, flask, bottle, syringe or other container, into which a component may be placed, and preferably, suitably aliquoted. Where there is more than one component in the kit, the kit also will generally contain a second, third or other additional containers into which the additional components may be separately placed. However, various combinations of components may be comprised in a container. In some embodiments, all of the siRNA delivery components are combined in a single container. In other embodiments, some or all of the siRNA delivery components with the instant polymers are provided in separate containers.

0110The kits of the present disclosure also will typically include packaging for containing the various containers in close confinement for commercial sale. Such packaging may include cardboard or injection or blow molded plastic packaging into which the desired containers are retained. A kit may also include instructions for employing the kit components. Instructions may include variations that can be implemented.

0111Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the following numbered Paragraphs.

0112Paragraph 1. A polymer comprising a formula: <chemistry id="chem0021" num="0021"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0027.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none"><li>X₁ is alkyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkyl_(C≤18);</li><li>X₂ is hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤18), or substituted alkyl_(C≤18);</li><li>R₁ is -A-Z;</li><li>wherein: <ul id="ul0004" list-style="none"><li>A is an alkanediyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤18);</li><li>Z is -NR₃R₄;</li><li>wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤18), substituted alkyl_(C≤18); or R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkanediyl(_C≤18);</li></ul></li><li>R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24), alkenyl_(C≤24), substituted alkyl_(C≤24), or substituted alkenyl_(C≤24);</li><li>x and y are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5;</li><li>m and n are each independently an integer between 0 and 250, provided that at least one of m and n is greater than 1; and</li><li>the repeating unit defined by m and n are randomly distributed throughout the polymer;</li></ul> or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

0113Paragraph 2. The polymer of Paragraph 1, wherein A is -CH₂CH₂-.

0114Paragraph 3. The polymer of either Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, wherein Z is -NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently alkyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkyl_(C≤18).

0115Paragraph 4. The polymer of Paragraph 3, wherein R₃ is alkyl_(C≤18).

0116Paragraph 5. The polymer of Paragraph 4, wherein R₃ is methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl.

0117Paragraph 6. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-5, wherein R₄ is alkyl_(C≤18).

0118Paragraph 7. The polymer of Paragraph 6, wherein R₄ is methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl.

0119Paragraph 8. The polymer of either Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, wherein Z is -NR₃R₄; wherein: R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkanediyl(_C≤18).

0120Paragraph 9. The polymer of Paragraph 8, wherein R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are -CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-, -CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-, or -CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-.

0121Paragraph 10. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-9, wherein X₁ is alkyl_(C≤18) or substituted alkyl_(C≤18).

0122Paragraph 11. The polymer of Paragraph 10, wherein X₁ is alkyl_(C≤6) or substituted alkyl_(C≤6).

0123Paragraph 12. The polymer of Paragraph 11, wherein X₁ is methyl.

0124Paragraph 13. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-12, wherein X₂ is hydrogen.

0125Paragraph 14. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-13, wherein R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24).

0126Paragraph 15. The polymer of Paragraph 14, wherein R₂ is butyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, or octadecyl.

0127Paragraph 16. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-15, wherein x is 1.

0128Paragraph 17. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-16, wherein y is 1.

0129Paragraph 18. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-17, wherein m is an integer between 1 and 100.

0130Paragraph 19. The polymer of Paragraph 18, wherein m is an integer between 1 and 50.

0131Paragraph 20. The polymer of Paragraph 19, wherein m is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20.

0132Paragraph 21. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-20, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 100.

0133Paragraph 22. The polymer of Paragraph 21, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 50.

0134Paragraph 23. The polymer of Paragraph 22, wherein n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20.

0135Paragraph 24. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-23, wherein the polymer comprises a molar ratio of the m repeating unit and the n repeating unit between about 10:1 to about 1:10.

0136Paragraph 25. The polymer of Paragraph 24, wherein the molar ratio between the m repeating unit and the n repeating unit is between about 5:1 to about 1:5.

0137Paragraph 26. The polymer of Paragraph 25, wherein the molar ratio is 3:1, 1:1, or 1:3.

0138Paragraph 27. The polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-26, wherein the polymer has an average molecular weight from about 1,000 to about 100,000 as measured by gel permeation chromatography.

0139Paragraph 28. The polymer of Paragraph 27, wherein the average molecular weight is about 2,000 to about 10,000.

0140Paragraph 29. A nanoparticle composition comprising: <ol id="ol0007"><li>(A) a polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-28; and</li><li>(B) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

0141Paragraph 30. The composition of Paragraph 29, wherein the nucleic acid is a short (small) interfering RNA (siRNA), a microRNA (miRNA), a messenger RNA (mRNA), a cluster regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), a plasmid DNA (pDNA), a double stranded DNA (dsDNA), a single stranded DNA (ssDNA), a single stranded RNA (ssRNA), a double stranded RNA (dsRNA), a locked nucleic acid (LNA), a peptide nucleic acid (PNA), a miRNA mimic, or a anti-miRNA.

0142Paragraph 31. The composition of Paragraph 30, wherein the nucleic acid is a siRNA.

0143Paragraph 32. The composition of Paragraph 31, wherein the siRNA is a siRNA against Factor VII.

0144Paragraph 33. The composition according to any one of Paragraphs 29-32, wherein the composition further comprises a steroid or steroid derivative.

0145Paragraph 34. The composition of Paragraph 33, wherein steroid derivative is a sterol.

0146Paragraph 35. The composition of Paragraph 34, wherein the sterol is cholesterol.

0147Paragraph 36. The composition according to any one of Paragraphs 29-35, wherein the composition further comprises a phospholipid.

0148Paragraph 37. The composition of Paragraph 36, wherein the phospholipid is a phosphatidylcholine.

0149Paragraph 38. The composition of Paragraph 37, wherein the phospholipid is distearoylphosphatidylcholine.

0150Paragraph 39. The composition according to any one of Paragraphs 29-38, wherein the composition further comprises a PEG lipid.

0151Paragraph 40. The composition of Paragraph 39, wherein the PEG lipid is a PEGylated diacylglycerol.

0152Paragraph 41. The composition of Paragraph 40, wherein the PEG lipid is PEGylated dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol.

0153Paragraph 42. The composition of Paragraph 39, wherein the PEG lipid is: <chemistry id="chem0022" num="0022"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0028.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: <ul id="ul0005" list-style="none"><li>n₁ is an integer from 1 to 250; and</li><li>n₂ and n₃ are each independently selected from 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23.</li></ul>

0154Paragraph 43. The composition of Paragraph 42, wherein n₁ is 5 to 100.

0155Paragraph 44. The composition of Paragraph 43, wherein n₁ is 45.

0156Paragraph 45. The composition according to any one of Paragraphs 42-44, wherein n₂ is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17.

0157Paragraph 46. The composition of Paragraph 45, wherein n₂ is 15.

0158Paragraph 47. The composition according to any one of Paragraphs 42-46, wherein n₃ is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17.

0159Paragraph 48. The composition of Paragraph 47, wherein n₃ is 15.

0160Paragraph 49. The composition according to any one of Paragraphs 29-48, wherein the composition comprises a ratio of polymer to steroid to phospholipid to PEG lipid from about 25:15:57:3 to about 75:5:19:1.

0161Paragraph 50. The composition of Paragraph 49, wherein the ratio of polymer to steroid to phospholipid to PEG lipid is from about 50:10:30:10 to about 50:10:39.9:0.1.

0162Paragraph 51. The composition according to any one of Paragraphs 29-50, wherein the composition comprises a ratio of polymer to nucleic acid from about 5:1 to about 500:1.

0163Paragraph 52. The composition of Paragraph 51, wherein the composition comprises a ratio from about 10:1 to about 100:1.

0164Paragraph 53. The composition of Paragraph 52, wherein the composition comprises a ratio of about 23:1 or about 100:1.

0165Paragraph 54. A method of preparing a nanoparticle composition comprising: <ol id="ol0008" compact="compact"><li>(A) admixing a polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-28 in an alcohol_(C≤12) to form a nanoparticle; and</li><li>(B) admixing a nucleic acid in a buffer to the nanoparticle of step (A) to form a nanoparticle composition.</li></ol>

0166Paragraph 55. The method of Paragraph 54, wherein the buffer has a pH less than 6.

0167Paragraph 56. The method of Paragraph 55, wherein the buffer has a pH less than 5.

0168Paragraph 57. The method of Paragraph 56, wherein the buffer has a pH of 4.2.

0169Paragraph 58. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 54-57, wherein the method further comprises diluting the nanoparticle composition with a second buffer to increase the pH.

0170Paragraph 59. The method of Paragraph 58, wherein the pH is increased to physiological pH.

0171Paragraph 60. The method of either Paragraph 58 or Paragraph 59, wherein the second buffer is phosphate buffered saline.

0172Paragraph 61. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 54-60, wherein the nucleic acid is a short (small) interfering RNA (siRNA), a microRNA (miRNA), a messenger RNA (mRNA), a cluster regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), a plasmid DNA (pDNA), a double stranded DNA (dsDNA), a single stranded DNA (ssDNA), a single stranded RNA (ssRNA), a double stranded RNA (dsRNA), a locked nucleic acid (LNA), a peptide nucleic acid (PNA), a miRNA mimic, or a anti-miRNA.

0173Paragraph 62. The method of Paragraph 61, wherein the nucleic acid is a siRNA.

0174Paragraph 63. The method of Paragraph 62, wherein the siRNA is a siRNA against Factor VII.

0175Paragraph 64. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 54-63, wherein the composition further comprises a steroid or steroid derivative.

0176Paragraph 65. The method of Paragraph 64, wherein the steroid derivative is a sterol.

0177Paragraph 66. The method of Paragraph 65, wherein the sterol is cholesterol.

0178Paragraph 67. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 54-66, wherein the composition further comprises a phospholipid.

0179Paragraph 68. The method of Paragraph 67, wherein the phospholipid is a phosphatidylcholine containing lipid.

0180Paragraph 69. The method of Paragraph 68, wherein the phospholipid is distearoylphosphatidylcholine.

0181Paragraph 70. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 54-69, wherein the composition further comprises a PEG lipid.

0182Paragraph 71. The method of Paragraph 70, wherein the PEG lipid is a PEGylated diacylglycerol.

0183Paragraph 72. The method of Paragraph 71, wherein the PEG lipid is PEGylated dimyristoyl-sn-glycerol.

0184Paragraph 73. The method of Paragraph 70, wherein the PEG lipid is: <chemistry id="chem0023" num="0023"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0029.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: <ul id="ul0006" list-style="none"><li>n₁ is an integer from 1 to 250; and</li><li>n₂ and n₃ are each independently selected from 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, or 23.</li></ul>

0185Paragraph 74. The method of Paragraph 73, wherein n₁ is 5 to 100.

0186Paragraph 75. The method of Paragraph 74, wherein n₁ is 45.

0187Paragraph 76. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 73-75, wherein n₂ is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17.

0188Paragraph 77. The method of Paragraph 76, wherein n₂ is 15.

0189Paragraph 78. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 73-77, wherein n₃ is 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17.

0190Paragraph 79. The method of Paragraph 78, wherein n₃ is 15.

0191Paragraph 80. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 54-79, wherein the composition comprises a ratio of polymer to steroid to phospholipid to PEG lipid from about 25:15:57:3 to about 75:5:19:1.

0192Paragraph 81. The method of Paragraph 49, wherein the ratio of polymer to steroid to phospholipid to PEG lipid is from about 50:10:30:10 to about 50:10:39.9:0.1.

0193Paragraph 82. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 54-81, wherein the nanoparticle composition comprises a ratio of polymer to nucleic acid from about 5:1 to about 500:1.

0194Paragraph 83. The method of Paragraph 82, wherein the nanoparticle composition comprises a ratio from about 10:1 to about 100:1.

0195Paragraph 84. The method of Paragraph 83, wherein the nanoparticle composition comprises a ratio of about 23:1 or about 100:1.

0196Paragraph 85. A nanoparticle composition prepared by the method according to any one of Paragraphs 54-84.

0197Paragraph 86. A pharmaceutical composition composing a polymer or composition according to any one of Paragraphs 1-53 and 85 and an excipient.

0198Paragraph 87. The pharmaceutical composition of Paragraph 86, wherein the composition is formulated for administration: orally, intraadiposally, intraarterially, intraarticularly, intracranially, intradermally, intralesionally, intramuscularly, intranasally, intraocularly, intrapericardially, intraperitoneally, intrapleurally, intraprostatically, intrarectally, intrathecally, intratracheally, intratumorally, intraumbilically, intravaginally, intravenously, intravesicularlly, intravitreally, liposomally, locally, mucosally, parenterally, rectally, subconjunctival, subcutaneously, sublingually, topically, transbuccally, transdermally, vaginally, in crèmes, in lipid compositions, via a catheter, via a lavage, via continuous infusion, via infusion, via inhalation, via injection, via local delivery, or via localized perfusion.

0199Paragraph 88. A method of silencing gene expression comprising contacting a composition comprising a nucleic acid according to any one of Paragraphs 29-53 and 85-87 with a cell comprising said gene.

0200Paragraph 89. The method of Paragraph 88, wherein the nucleic acid is a siRNA.

0201Paragraph 90. The method of either Paragraph 88 or Parargraph 89, wherein the cell is contacted <i>in vitro.</i>

0202Paragraph 91. The method of either Paragraph 88 or Paragraph 89, wherein the cell is contacted <i>in vivo.</i>

0203Paragraph 92. A method of treating or preventing a disease or disorder comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition according to any one of Paragraphs 29-53 and 85-87.

0204Paragraph 93. The method of Paragraph 92, wherein the disease or disorder is a disease or disorder associated with an overexpression of one or more genes.

0205Paragraph 94. The method of either Paragraph 92 or Paragraph 93, wherein the composition is administered once.

0206Paragraph 95. The method of either Paragraph 92 or Paragraph 93, wherein the composition is administered two or more times.

0207Paragraph 96. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 92-95, wherein the composition is administered intravenously.

0208Paragraph 97. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 92-96, wherein the disease or disorder is associated with overexpression of the genes for Factor VII.

0209Paragraph 98. A method of preparing a polymer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0024" num="0024"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0030.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: <ul id="ul0007" list-style="none"><li>X₁ and X₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), or substituted alkyl_(C≤12);</li><li>R₁ is -A-Z;</li><li>wherein: <ul id="ul0008" list-style="none"><li>A is an alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤12);</li><li>Z is -NR₃R₄;</li><li>wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), substituted alkyl_(C≤12); or R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤12);</li></ul></li><li>R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24), alkenyl_(C≤24), substituted alkyl_(C≤24), or substituted alkenyl_(C≤24);</li><li>x and y are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; and</li><li>m and n are each independently an integer between 0 and 250, provided that at least one of m and n is greater than 1; and</li><li>the repeating unit defined by m and n are randomly distributed throughout the polymer; comprising reacting a first monomer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0025" num="0025"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0031.tif" /></chemistry></li><li>wherein: R₁ is -A-Z; wherein: <ul id="ul0009" list-style="none"><li>A is an alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤12);</li><li>Z is -NR₃R₄;</li><li>wherein: R₃ and R₄ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl_(C≤12), substituted alkyl_(C≤12); or R₃ and R₄ are taken together and are alkanediyl_(C≤12) or substituted alkanediyl_(C≤12);</li><li>x is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5;</li></ul></li><li>with a second monomer of the formula: <chemistry id="chem0026" num="0026"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0032.tif" /></chemistry> wherein: <ul id="ul0010" list-style="none"><li>R₂ is alkyl_(C≤24), alkenyl_(C≤24), substituted alkyl_(C≤24), or substituted alkenyl_(C≤24); and</li><li>y is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5;</li><li>in the presence of a base.</li></ul></li></ul>

0210Paragraph 99. The method of Paragraph 98, wherein the base is an alkyllithium reagent.

0211Paragraph 100. The method of Paragraph 99, wherein the base is methyl lithium.

0212Paragraph 101. The method of Paragraph 98, wherein the base is a Grignard reagent.

0213Paragraph 102. The method of Paragraph 101, wherein the base is methyl Grignard.

0214Paragraph 103. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 98-100, wherein the method comprises running the reaction in bulk reactant and no solvent.

0215Paragraph 104. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 98-100, wherein the method further comprises a solvent.

0216Paragraph 105. The method of Paragraph 104, wherein the solvent is toluene, anisole, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, chloroform, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, and tetrahydrofuran.

0217Paragraph 106. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 98-105, wherein the method comprises reacting for a time period from about 30 seconds to about 1 hour. Paragraph 107. The method of Paragraph 106, wherein the time period is about 2 minutes.

0218Paragraph 108. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 98-107, wherein the method comprises a conversion rate greater than 50%.

0219Paragraph 109. The method of Paragraph 108, wherein the conversion rate is greater than 80%.

0220Paragraph 110. The method according to any one of Paragraphs 98-109, wherein the polymer has a purity of greater than 80%.

0221Paragraph 111. The method of Paragraph 110, wherein the purity is greater than 95%.

0222Paragraph 112. A composition consisting essentially of: <ol id="ol0009"><li>(A) a polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-28; and</li><li>(B) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

0223Paragraph 113. A composition consisting essentially of: <ol id="ol0010"><li>(A) a polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-28;</li><li>(B) a PEG lipid; and</li><li>(C) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

0224Paragraph 114. A composition consisting essentially of: <ol id="ol0011"><li>(A) a polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-28;</li><li>(B) a PEG lipid;</li><li>(C) a steroid or steroid derivative; and</li><li>(D) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

0225Paragraph 115. A composition consisting essentially of: <ol id="ol0012"><li>(A) a polymer according to any one of Paragraphs 1-28;</li><li>(B) a PEG lipid;</li><li>(C) a steroid or steroid derivative;</li><li>(D) a phospholipid; and</li><li>(E) a nucleic acid.</li></ol>

F. EXAMPLES

0226The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the disclosure, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Example 1: Materials and Instrumentation

1. Materials

0227Ethylene sulfide, cholesterol, all thiols, all amines, and all otherwise unspecified chemicals were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (DPO) and luciferin (monosodium salt) were purchased from Fisher Scientific. DSPC was purchased from Avanti Lipids. siRNA against luciferase (sense strand: 5'-GAUUAUGUCCGGUUAUGUA[dT][dT]-3'; anti-sense strand: 3'-UACAUAACCGGACAUAAUC[dT][dT]-5'), Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Media (DMEM), and fetal bovine serum (FBS) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. Cy5.5-siLuc had the same sequence, but was labeled with the Cy5.5 dye at one end. PEG-lipid was chemically synthesized. OptiMEM was purchased from Life Technologies. RNAiMax was purchased from Invitrogen and used following the supplier's recommended protocols. Cell Mask Orange was purchased from Molecular Probes. ONE-Glo + Tox was purchased from Promega. All organic solvents were purchased from Fisher Scientific and purified with a solvent purification system (Innovative Technology).

2. Instrumentation

0228<b>Robotic automation.</b> Nanoparticle (NP) formulations and <i>in vitro</i> screening were performed on a Tecan Freedom EVO 200 fluid handling robot equipped with an 8-channel liquid handling arm (LiHa), multi-channel arm with 96-channel head (MCA), robotic manipulator arm (RoMa), and an integrated InfiniTe F/M200 Pro microplate reader (Tecan). Two integrated custom heating and stirring chemical reaction stations (V&amp;P Scientific 710E-3HM Series Tumble Stirrers) provided reaction and mixing support. All operations were programmed in EVOware Standard software (Tecan).

0229<b>Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.</b>¹H and ¹³C NMR were performed on a Varian^® 500 MHz spectrometer.

0230<b>Molecular weight analysis.</b> For polymers soluble in DMF, the molecular weight was measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) (Viscotek) equipped with RI detection and ViscoGEL I-series columns (Viscoteck I-MBLMW-3078) using DMF as the eluent at 0.75 mL/min and 45 °C. For polymers not soluble in DMF, the molecular weight were measured by GPC with THF as the eluent at 1 mL/min and 35 °C (Malvern / Viscotek) equipped with an RI detector (Malvern / Viscotek). The instruments were calibrated with a series of 10 narrow polydispersity polystyrene standards (500 to 200,000 g/mol).

0231<b>Flash chromatography.</b> Flash chromatography was performed on a Teledyne Isco CombiFlash^® Rf-200i chromatography system equipped with UV-vis and evaporative light scattering detectors (ELSD).

0232<b>Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)</b> was performed on a FEI Tecnai G2 Spirit Biotwin at an accelerated voltage of 120 kW. For sample preparation, a drop of formulated NP was placed on a carbon film covered TEM grid, excess liquid was then wicked by filter paper. The copper grid was then dried under vacuum for one hour.

0233<b>NP size analysis.</b> Particle sizes were measured by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) using a Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZS (He-Ne laser, λ = 632 nm).

0234<b>Nanoparticle formulation for <i>in vivo</i> studies.</b> Formulated polymeric nanoparticles for <i>in vivo</i> studies were prepared using a microfluidic mixing instrument with herringbone rapid mixing features (Precision Nanosystems NanoAssemblr). Ethanol solutions of polymers, DSPC, cholesterol, and PEG lipid were rapidly combined with acidic solutions of siRNA as described below. The typical ratio of aqueous:EtOH was 3:1 (volume) and the typical flow rate was 12 mL/minute.

3. In Vitro siRNA Transfection Assay

0235HeLa cells stably expressing luciferase (HeLa-Luc) were derived from HeLa cells (ATCC) by stable transfection of the Firefly Luciferase gene using Lentiviral infection followed by clonal selection. HeLa-Luc cells were seeded (10,000 cells/well) into each well of an opaque white 96-well plate (Corning) and allowed to attach overnight in phenol red-free DMEM supplemented with 5% FBS. Polymer stock solutions were diluted to 1 mM in ethanol. 58.45 µL DSPC/Cholesterol/PEG lipid mixture in EtOH (DPSC = 211.14 µM, Chol = 802.33 µM, PEG Lipid = 42.228 µM) was mixed with 61.55 µL polymer (1 mM stock solution in EtOH). This was mixed thoroughly by pipette mixing. 33 µL of this ethanol lipid mixture was added to 55 µL siRNA stock solution in citrate buffer (40 ng/µL siRNA) (citrate buffer pH = 4.2) and rapidly mixed. It was allowed to complex for 20 minutes at room temperature. 132 µL sterile PBS was added to complete the preparation of formulated NPs. 20, 10, 5, 2.5, and 1.5 µL were added to growing cells (n = 4) depending on desired dose.

0236For the high-throughput screen (<figref idref="f0008 f0009 f0010 f0011">FIGS. 5-6</figref>), cells were transfected with 100 ng (38.4 nM) of firefly-specific siLuc. Crude polymers were utilized in this phase to screen for hits. Subsequently, the inventors re-synthesized lead polymers and purified them by dialysis into THF. All polymers used in the dose response (FIGS. 7A &amp; 7B) and animal experiments (<figref idref="f0014 f0015 f0016">FIGS. 10A-10C</figref>) were purified polymers free of all residual solvents and any unreacted monomers. For the dose response curves, 6.25 to 100 ng were added (2.4 to 38.4 nM). Cells were incubated for 36 h at 37 °C, 5% CO₂ and then firefly luciferase activity and viability was analyzed using "One Glo + Tox" assay kits (Promega). RNAiMax control experiments used OptiMEM during the initial mixing stage according to the manufacturer's recommended protocol. All polymeric NP experiments were performed in full 5% serum-containing DMEM. Results were normalized to untreated cells (n=4). To evaluate statistical significance, two-tailed T tests with the 95% confidence level were conducted. As an example, A7 was compared to RNAiMax: ^∗∗∗∗, p&lt;0.0001.

4. In Vivo Factor VII Silencing in Mice

0237All procedures used in animal studies were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and were consistent with local, state and federal regulations as applicable. C57BL/6 mice (Harlan) were used for siRNA silencing experiments. 2'-F sugar modified siRNAs (Sigma-Aldrich) were used to prevent activation of the Toll-like receptor 7 immune response and confer enzymatic resistance. Nanoparticles were purified by dialysis into sterile PBS. Prior to injection, complexes were diluted in PBS at siRNA concentrations such that each mouse was administered a dose of 0.01 mL/g body-weight. Formulations were administered intravenously via tail vein injection. After 48 h, body-weight gain/loss was measured and mice were anaesthetized by isofluorane inhalation for blood sample collection by retro-orbital eye bleed. Serum was isolated with serum separation tubes (Becton Dickinson) and Factor VII protein levels were analyzed by chromogenic assay (Biophen FVII, Aniara Corporation). A standard curve was constructed using samples from PBS-injected mice and relative Factor VII expression was determined by comparing treated groups to an untreated PBS control.

5. Microscopy

0238Cellular uptake studies were performed using the top performing materials from the polymer screen. HeLa-Luc cells were seeded at a density of 30,000 cells per well in 8-chambered coverglass slides (Nunc) and allowed to attached for 24 hours. NP formulations were prepared by manual mixing using a similar protocol to the <i>in vitro</i> transfection assays above using Cy5.5-labeled siRNA. The formulation was performed in 10 mM citrate buffer pH 4.3 at a final mole ratio of 100:1 polymer: siRNA, and the lipid mixture of the formulation consisted of molar ratios 50:38:10:2 lipocationic polymer: cholesterol: DSPC: PEG-lipid. The nanoparticles were added to the cells at a final siRNA dose of 100 ng/well. After 3h incubation, the medium was aspirated, washed with PBS, and cell membrane staining was performed (Cell Mask Orange, Molecular Probes) using the manufacturer's protocol. Confocal microscopy imaging was performed using a Nikon Eclipse TE2000-E and images were analyzed using ImageJ (NIH).

6. In vivo

Biodistribution and Luciferase Silencing in Mice

0239<b>Animals</b> Female athymic Nude-Foxn1^nu mice were purchased from Harlan Laboratories (Indianapolis, IN). All experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and were consistent with local, state and federal regulations as applicable.

0240<b><i>In vivo</i> biodistribution</b> MDA-MB-231-Luc tumor cells (5×10⁶) in 100 µL PBS were injected subcutaneously into each flank of the mice. After three weeks when the tumors reached the adequate size, A1 NPs (A1:cholesterol:DSPC:PEG-lipid = 50:35:10:5; polymer:siRNA = 20:1 (weight); aqueous:EtOH = 3:1 (volume)) containing 50 µg siLuc (50 % Cy5.5-labeled) in 200 µL were injected intravenously (2.5 mg/kg dose IV). After 2.5 h, mice were anesthetized with 2.5 % isofluorane in oxygen and the whole body and ex vivo organs fluorescence imaging was performed on an IVIS Lumina System (Caliper Life Sciences).

0241<b><i>In vivo</i> bioluminescence imaging</b> MDA-MB-231-Luc tumor-bearing mice (see above) were anesthetized with 2.5 % isofluorane in oxygen. D-Luciferin, monosodium salt (Fisher Scientific) was dissolved in PBS (40 mg/mL) and administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. Bioluminescence imaging was performed 10 min after luciferin administration on the IVIS Lumina System (Caliper Life Sciences). Mice were then injected intratumorally with the A1 NPs (A1:cholesterol:DSPC:PEG-lipid = 50:35:10:5; polymer:siRNA = 20:1 (weight); aqueous:EtOH = 3:1 (volume)) NPs with the siRNA concentration of 50 µg/100 µL (siLuc or control siGFP) in a total volume of 150 µL per mouse distributed between the two tumors on both flanks. Twenty-four hours after NP administration, luminescence imaging was performed again as described above. The BLI signal intensities from the tumors were quantified by the fixed regions of interest (ROI) as the total flux of photons per second and normalized against the initial values obtained prior to the first injection.

0242<b>Quantitative luciferase and total protein measurements</b> MDA-MB-231-Luc tumor-bearing mice were administered A1 NPs intratumorally at the concentrations described above for the bioluminescence imaging. On the following day, the NPs were injected again. Two days after second injection, mice were sacrificed and tumor tissues collected, weighed and homogenized in RLB buffer (Promega) using T 25 digital ULTRA-TURRAX (Ika). Tumor homogenates were centrifuged and the supernatant applied in protein concentration and luciferase activity measurements. Luciferase assay reagent (Promega) was added to the supernatant (20 µL) and the luminescence was detected using Infinite 200 PRO micro plate reader (Tecan). Background signals were subtracted. The protein concentrations were determined using the BCA Protein Assay Kit (Pierce) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The luminescence data were calculated as relative light units per milligram of tissue or microgram of proteins. To evaluate statistical significance, student's T tests with the 95% confidence level were conducted. ^∗ p&lt;0.1. <figref idref="f0016">FIG. 10B</figref>: n=4; p=0.0121. <figref idref="f0016">FIG. 10C</figref> left: n=4; p=0.0300 <figref idref="f0016">FIG. 10C</figref> right: n=4; p=0.0386.

0243<b>siRNA retention in tumor</b> The MDA-MB-231-Luc tumor-bearing mice were injected intratumorally with the A1 NPs (A1:cholesterol:DSPC:PEG-lipid = 50:35:10:5; polymer:siRNA = 20:1 (weight); aqueous:EtOH = 3:1 (volume)) NPs with the siRNA concentration of 50 µg/100 µL (siLuc; 20 % Cy5.5-siLuc) in a total volume of 150 µL per mouse distributed between the tumors on both flanks. Two days later, whole body fluorescence imaging was performed on an IVIS Lumina System (Caliper Life Sciences).

Example 2: Synthesis of Polymers and Monomer Components

1. Aminothiol synthesis

0244<chemistry id="chem0027" num="0027"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0033.tif" /></chemistry>

General procedure for synthesis of aminothiols.

0245For 2-(dimethylamino)ethane-1-thiol <b>(1):</b> A 250 mL round bottom flask was dried overnight, degassed, and refilled with nitrogen prior to being placed in a liquid nitrogen bath. Then, dimethylamine was released into the flask where it solidified into a white solid. The liquid nitrogen bath was removed, and the solid dimethylamine was weighed to be 10.5 g (0.23 mol). 50 mL dry dichloromethane (DCM) was added and the flask was placed in an ice bath. 18 g ethylene sulfide (0.30 mol) was dissolved in 25 mL dry DCM and added into the flask drop wise. The reaction solution was stirred for 2 hours from 0 °C to room temperature under nitrogen. The solution was concentrated via rotary evaporation at 40 °C. Sodium ascorbate was added and filtered to yield 15.6 g (0.15 mol) product (yield: 65%) as a colorless liquid. The structure was verified by NMR and LC-MS.

0246For 2-(diethylamino)ethane-1-thiol <b>(2),</b> 2-(dipropylamino)ethane-1-thiol <b>(3),</b> 2-(dibutylamino)ethane-1-thiol <b>(4),</b> 2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethane-1-thiol <b>(5),</b> 2-(piperidine-1-yl)ethane-1-thiol <b>(6),</b> and 2-(azepan-1-yl)ethane-1-thiol <b>(7):</b> The secondary amine (0.1 mol) was dissolved in 100 mL DCM in a pre-dried flask, followed by addition of 12 g ethylene sulfide (0.2 mol) in 50 mL DCM solution. The reaction solution was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours under nitrogen, and then concentrated via rotary evaporation and distilled under vacuum to yield a colorless liquid. The yields (based on secondary amine) for compounds <b>(2-7)</b> were 42%, 40%, 22%, 47%, 54%, 35%, respectively. The structures were verified by NMR and LC-MS. <ul id="ul0011" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><i>2-(dimethylamino)ethane-1-thiol (1)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.61 (t, 2H), 2.48 (t, 2H), 2.24 (s, 6H)</li><li><i>2-(diethylamino)ethane-1-thiol (2)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.61 (m, 2H), 2.59 (m, 2H), 2.52 (q, 4H), 1.02 (t, 6H) <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 133.1</li><li><i>2-(dipropylamino)ethane-1-thiol (3)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.62 (m, 2H), 2.56 (m, 2H), 2.36 (m, 4H), 1.45 (m, 4H), 0.88 (t, 6H). <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 161.2</li><li><i>2-(dibutylamino)ethane-1-thiol (4)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.60 (m, 2H), 2.58 (m, 2H), 2.41 (t, 4H), 1.41 (m, 4H), 1.31 (m, 4H), 0.91 (t, 6H). <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 189.2</li><li><i>2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethane-1-thiol (5)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.65 (br, 4H), 2.51 (br, 4H), 1.78 (m, 4H). <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> =131.2</li><li><i>2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethane-1-thiol (6)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.62 (m, 2H), 2.50 (m, 2H), 2.38 (br, 4H), 1.57 (m, 4H), 1.42 (m, 2H). <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 145.2</li><li><i>2-(azepan-1-yl)ethane-1-thiol</i> (7) ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 2.69 (t, 2H), 2.63 (t, 4H), 2.59 (t, 2H), 1.63 (br, 4H), 1.58 (br. 4H). <i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 159.1</li></ul>

2. Monomer Synthesis

0247<chemistry id="chem0028" num="0028"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0034.tif" /></chemistry><chemistry id="chem0029" num="0029"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0035.tif" /></chemistry>

0248<b>General procedure for synthesis of monomer M1-M7.</b> 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (DPO) reacted with an aminothiol (1-7) at a mole ratio of 1 to 1, and the reaction was stirred at 50 °C for two hours. Complete reactant conversion to product was reached with ~100% yield. The structures were verified by NMR and LC-MS

0249<i>4-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one (<b>M1</b> or <b>N1</b>)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.45 (ddd, 1H), 4.22 (ddd, 1H), 3.20 (m, 1H), 2.88 (ddd, 1H), 2.62 (t, 2H), 2.47 (m, 3H), 2.19 (s, 6H), 2.16 (m, 1H), 1.81 (ddd, 1H). ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 169.25, 67.25, 58.95, 45.27, 37.14, 35.92, 29.49, 28.58 [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 204.1

0250<i>4-((2-(diethylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one <b>(M2 or N2</b>)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.48 (ddd, 1H), 4.25 (ddd, 1H), 3.24 (m, 1H), 2.92 (ddd, 1H), 2.63 (br. 4H), 2.51 (m, 5H), 2.18 (ddd, 1H), 1.85 (ddd, 1H), 0.99 (t, 6H). ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 169.28, 67.27, 52.77, 46.92, 37.21, 36.02, 29.58, 28.50, 11.71 [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 232.2

0251<i>4-((2-(dipropylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one <b>(M3 or N3</b>)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.49 (ddd, 1H), 4.26 (ddd, 1H), 3.25 (m, 1H), 2.92 (ddd, 1H), 2.63 (br, 4H), 2.49 (dd, 1H), 2.36 (m, 4H), 2.17 (ddd, 1H), 1.83 (ddd, 1H), 1.43 (m, 4H), 0.85 (t, 6H). ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 169.27, 67.25, 56.15, 54.10, 37.29, 35.99, 29.61, 28.64, 20.30, 11.87. [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 260.2

0252<i>4-((2-(dibutylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one <b>(M4 or N4)</b></i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.50 (ddd, 1H), 4.26 (ddd, 1H), 3.25 (m, 1H), 2.93 (dd, 1H), 2.63 (br, 4H), 2.50 (dd, 1H), 2.40 (t, 4H), 2.19 (m, 1H), 1.82 (m, 1H), 1.38 (m, 4H), 1.28 (m, 4H), 0.89 (t, 6H). ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 169.26, 67.24, 54.04, 53.96, 37.25, 36.01, 29.62, 29.27, 28.63, 20.62, 14.07. [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 288.2

0253<i>4-((2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one (<b>M5 or N5</b>)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.46 (ddd, 1H), 4.23 (ddd, 1H), 3.21 (m, 1H), 2.90 (ddd, 1H), 2.66 (m, 4H), 2.48 (m, 5H), 2.18 (ddd, 1H), 1.84 (ddd, 1H), 1.74 (m, 4H). ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 169.21, 67.23, 56.10, 54.05, 37.17, 36.03, 29.63, 29.55, 23.40. [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 230.1

0254<i>4-((2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one (<b>M6 or N6</b>)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.48 (ddd, 1H), 4.24 (ddd, 1H), 3.24 (m, 1H), 2.91 (ddd, 1H), 2.64 (m, 2H), 2.51 (m, 3H), 2.36 (br, 4H), 2.19 (ddd, 1H), 1.84 (ddd, 1H), 1.54 (m, 4H), 1.40 (m, 2H). ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 169.24, 67.25, 59.13, 54.50, 37.21, 36.04, 29.60, 27.90, 25.85, 24.22. [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 244.1

0255<i>4-((2-(azepan-1-yl)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one <b>(M7 or N7</b>)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.46 (ddd, 1H), 4.24 (ddd, 1H), 3.23 (m, 1H), 2.91 (dd, 1H), 2.63 (m, 8H), 2.50 (dd, 1H), 2.20 (ddd, 1H), 1.84 (ddd, 1H), 1.54 (m, 8H). ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 169.28, 67.26, 57.77, 55.29, 37.26, 35.97, 29.62, 28.69, 28.03, 26.97. [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 258.1

0256<b>General procedure for synthesis of alkylthiol monomers.</b> 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (DPO) was reacted with an alkylthiol at a mole ratio of 1 to 1.2. Dimethylphenylphosphine (DMPP) (0.5 % by mol) was added to the reaction mixture, and the reaction was stirred at room temperature until all the DPO was converted (100%). The reaction mixture was then separated by flash chromatography (with hexane: ethyl acetate=10:0~9:1) to obtain pure monomers. The structures were verified by NMR and LC-MS.

0257<i>4-(butylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one <b>(M8 or C4)</b></i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.52 (ddd, 1H), 4.29 (ddd, 1H), 3.19 (m, 1H), 2.93 (ddd, 1H), 2.57 (m, 3H), 2.20 (ddd, 1H) 1.85 (ddd, 1H), 1.57 (m, 2H), 1.42 (m, 2H), 0.92 (t, 3H); ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 169.42, 67.34, 37.19, 35.73, 31.57, 30.27, 29.49, 22.00, 13.65; [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 189.1

0258<i>4-(hexylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one <b>(M9 or C6)</b></i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.48 (ddd, 1H), 4.25 (ddd, 1H), 3.17 (m, 1H), 2.90 (ddd, 1H), 2.54 (m, 3H), 2.17 (ddd, 1H), 1.84 (ddd, 1H), 1.54 (m, 2H), 1.36 (m, 2H), 1.25 (m, 4H), 0.85 (t, 3H). ¹³C NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 169.36, 67.30, 37.18, 35.74, 31.33, 30.59, 29.48, 28.54, 22.49, 14.01. [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 217.2

0259<i>4-(octylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one (<b>M10 or C8)</b></i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.51 (ddd, 1H), 4.28 (ddd, 1H), 3.19 (m, 1H), 2.92 (ddd, 1H), 2.55 (m, 3H), 2.19 (ddd, 1H), 1.87 (ddd, 1H), 1.57 (m, 2H), 1.26 (m, 10H), 0.85 (t, 3H). ¹³C NMR δ 169.40, 67.33, 37.20, 35.75, 31.78, 30.61, 29.53, 29.51, 29.15, 29.14, 28.91, 22.64, 14.11; [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 245.2

0260<i>4-(decylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one (<b>M11 or C10</b>)</i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.52 (ddd, 1H), 4.29 (ddd, 1H), 3.19 (m, 1H), 2.93 (ddd, 1H), 2.56 (m, 3H), 2.18 (ddd, 1H), 1.87 (ddd, 1H), 1.57 (m, 2H), 1.24 (m, 14H), 0.86 (t, 3H); ¹³C NMR δ169.38, 67.32, 37.20, 35.76, 31.90, 30.61, 29.53, 29.51, 29.48, 29.29, 29.18, 28.90, 22.67, 14.13; [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 273.3

0261<i>4-(dodecylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one <b>(M12 or C12)</b></i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.50 (ddd, 1H), 4.27 (ddd, 1H), 3.20 (m, 1H), 2.92 (ddd, 1H), 2.54 (m, 3H), 2.18 (ddd, 1H), 1.87 (ddd, 1H), 1.57 (m, 2H), 1.24 (m, 18H), 0.86 (t, 3H); ¹³C NMR δ 169.38, 67.32, 37.20, 35.75, 31.91, 30.61, 29.64, 29.62, 29.58, 29.54, 29.51, 29.49, 29.35, 29.19, 28.91, 22.69, 14.14; [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 301.4

0262<i>4-(tetradecylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one <b>(M13 or C14)</b></i>¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.51(ddd, 1H), 4.29 (ddd, 1H), 3.20 (m, 1H), 2.95 (ddd, 1H), 2.56 (m, 3H), 2.21 (ddd, 1H), 1.88 (ddd, 1H), 1.60 (m, 4H), 1.37 (m, 2H), 1.25 (m, 18H), 0.88 (t, 3H). ¹³C NMR 169.35, 67.31, 37.20, 35.76, 31.92, 30.62, 29.68, 29.66, 29.65, 29.64, 29.58, 29.54, 29.52, 29.49, 29.36, 29.18, 28.91, 22.69, 14.13. [MH]⁺<i>m</i>/<i>z</i> = 329.3

3. Polymer Synthesis

0263A unique synthetic strategy to rapidly build a library of lipocationic polyesters via anionic ring-opening polymerization was developed. Previous reports highlight the importance of the inclusion of tertiary amines and alkyl chains for effective siRNA delivery (Akincw <i>et al.,</i> 2008, Love et al., 2010, Siegwart et al., 2011, Jayaraman et al., 2012, Scholz and Wagner, 2012 and Nelson <i>et al.,</i> 2013). However, the synthesis of amine-containing cyclic esters (and polyesters) is not straightforward because amine as nucleophile can hydrolyze esters. The synthesis of functional valerolactones using thiol-Michael addition to commercially available 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (DPO) was described by Kim, <i>et al.</i> (Kim <i>et al.,</i> 2012). Unfortunately, the Michael addition of secondary amines to DPO was successful, but the resulting functionalized valerolactones could not be polymerized as the monomers underwent retro-Michael addition upon heating. Thus, a synthetic strategy utilizing thiols was employed to introduce an amine group, such as a tertiary amine. Seven tertiary amine containing aminothiols followed by reacting these aminothiols with DPO at a 1:1 ratio to give the appropriate tertiary amine functionalized valerolactone monomers. Six alkylated valerolactone monomers were also synthesized via a similar strategy and were purified through column chromatography. Utilizing these methods, monomers were synthesized through a single step, which enabled functional monomer/polymer synthesis in gram scale. While some monomers were purification, the high reaction conversion enabled the polymerization to be conducted in one pot from monomer synthesis to polymer synthesis without additional workup or purification leading to increased yield and efficiency. To explore structure-function activity, random copolymers from all monomers were synthesized through anionic ring-opening polymerization using methyl lithium as the initiator. By using methyl lithium, the prepared polymers did not contain any initiator chain end functionality, so that structure-function could be better correlated with the polymer composition. Without being bound by any theory, the mechanism of this reaction is believed to involve the nucleophilic attack of carbonyl carbon on the monomer by methyl anion in the initiator which results in scission of acyl-oxygen bond and the polymerization propagates via alcoholate ion. Polymerization with some conventional ROP catalysts including tin (II) octanoate and other anionic catalysts like alkoxides and organocatalysts (Kim <i>et al.,</i> 2012, Tempelaar <i>et al.,</i> 2011 and Silvers <i>et al.,</i> 2012) were not successful produce the desired polymer. However, Grignard reagents were able to initiate all of the functional valerolactones reported herein to prepare a polymer with functional groups at the chain ends. Homo- and random (co)polymerizations were carried out in bulk in a glovebox and were usually completed within 2 minutes with high conversion (85%~95%). Because of the high conversion rate was achieved, the polymers could be screened for siRNA delivery directly without further purification. Most of the synthesized polymers exhibit similar molecular weight to theoretical molecular weight based on DMF GPC and ¹H NMR measurements. However, due to limited solubility of polymers with long alkylthiol chains, molecular weight of some of the polymers (marked with "^∗" in Table 1) were measured in THF GPC. The library consists of different combinations of the two monomer types at three different mole ratios for each combination of the monomers (3:1, 2:2, 1:3). The actual incorporation ratio was similar to the feed ratio which indicates the two types of monomers have similar reactivity under the given initiating condition. Using the approach described herein, both monomer and polymer synthesis are fast and easy, which allowed the rapid construction of a library of 139 functional polyesters.

0264<b>General procedure for synthesis of polymers:</b> Glass vials with stir bars were dried in the oven for two days and were cooled under vacuum. All the vials were transferred into the glovebox. Two different monomers were added to each vial at a fixed mole ratio. Methyl lithium (5%) was then added into the reaction vial to start the reaction. The polymer synthetic pathway is shown below in Scheme 3 and the components and ratios are shown in <figref idref="f0001 f0002">FIG. 1</figref>. Conversion and average molecular weight (M_n) are shown in Table 1 and <figref idref="f0003 f0004">FIGS. 2</figref> and <figref idref="f0005">3</figref>.

0265<b>A1</b>, <b>A7</b> and <b>A9</b> are described as typical polymerizations.

0266<b>A1</b>: <i>Synthesis of poly{4-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}-r-poly{4-(butylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}.</i> Glass vials with stir bars were dried in an oven for two days and then cooled under vacuum. All of the vials were transferred into the glove box. Monomers <b>N1</b> (0.104 g, 5.10×10^-4 mol) and <b>C4</b> (0.096 g, 5.10×10^-4 mol) were added to each vial at a fixed mole ratio listed below. 32 µL Methyl lithium (1.6 M in ether) was then added into the reaction vial to initiate the reaction. The polymer was collected after 5 minutes. Purified polymer was obtained by dialysis against THF for 4 hours. The polymer was then concentrated and dried via vacuum pump for 24 hours. The polymer was characterized by NMR and GPC (Table 1). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.27 (br, 4H), 3.12 (br, 2H), 2.61 (m, 6H), 2.52 (m, 4H), 2.24 (s, 6H), 1.98 (br, 2H), 1.84 (br, 2H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 1.28 (m, 2H), 0.88 (t, 3H).

0267<b>A7:</b><i>Synthesis of poly{4-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}-r-poly{4-(octylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}.</i> Glass vials with stir bars were dried in an oven for two days and then cooled under vacuum. All of the vials were transferred into the glove box. Monomers <b>N1</b> (0.104 g, 5.10×10^-4 mol) and <b>C8</b> (0.125 g, 5.10×10^-4 mol) were added to each vial at a fixed mole ratio listed shown below. 32 µL Methyl lithium (1.6 M in ether) was then added into the reaction vial to initiate the reaction. The polymer was collected after 5 minutes. Purified polymer was obtained by dialysis against THF for 4 hours. The polymer was then concentrated and dried via vacuum pump for 24 hours. The polymer was characterized by NMR and GPC (Table 1). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.27 (br, 4H), 3.12 (br, 2H), 2.61 (m, 6H), 2.52 (m, 4H), 2.24 (s, 6H), 1.98 (br, 2H), 1.84 (br, 2H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 1.28 (m, 10H), 0.88 (t, 3H)

0268<b>A9:</b><i>Synthesis of poly{4-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}-r-poly{4-(octylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}.</i> Glass vials with stir bars were dried in an oven for two days and then cooled under vacuum. All of the vials were transferred into the glove box. Monomers <b>N1</b> (0.052 g, 2.55×10^-4 mol) and <b>C8</b> (0.187 g, 7.65×10^-4 mol) were added to each vial at a fixed mole ratio listed shown below. 32 µl Methyl lithium (1.6 M in ether) was then added into the reaction vial to initiate the reaction. The polymer was collected after 5 minutes. Purified polymer was obtained by dialysis against THF for 4 hours. The polymer was then concentrated and dried via vacuum pump for 24 hours. The polymer was characterized by NMR and GPC (Table 1). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.27 (br, 4H), 3.12 (br, 2H), 2.61 (m, 6H), 2.52 (m, 4H), 2.24 (s, 6H), 1.98 (br, 2H), 1.84 (br, 2H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 1.28 (m, 10H), 0.88 (t, 3H)

0269All the other polymers were synthesized using an identical procedure with different monomers. The exact moles of monomers used for different copolymers were: <ul id="ul0012" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>M1:M2 (2:2): 5.10×10^-4 mol : 5.10×10^-4 mol</li><li>M1:M2 (1:3): 2.55×10^-4 mol : 7.65×10^-4 mol</li><li>M1:M2 (3:1): 7.65×10^-4 mol : 2.55×10^-4 mol</li></ul>

0270GPC analysis of several of the polymers are shown in <figref idref="f0022">FIG. 19A</figref> (DMF) and <figref idref="f0023">FIG. 19B</figref> (THF). <chemistry id="chem0030" num="0030"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0036.tif" /></chemistry><chemistry id="chem0031" num="0031"><img file="EP4088741A1_D0037.tif" /></chemistry>

4. Gram Scale Synthesis

0271A gram scale reaction was carried out for copolymer <b>A6</b> to examine scalability: <b>A6:</b> Synthesis of <i>poly{4-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}-r-poly{4-(hexylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}.</i> Monomer <b>N1</b> (0.25 g, 1.2×10^-3 mol) and Monomer <b>C6</b> (0.8 g, 3.6×10^-3 mol) were added to a flame-dried glass vial. 153 µL Methyl lithium (1.6 M in ether) was then added into the reaction vial to initiate the polymerization. The polymer was collected after 5 minutes and dialyzed against THF for 4 hours. The polymer was then concentrated and dried via vacuum pump for 24 hours. Yield = 87.7%. The polymer was characterized via NMR and GPC (<figref idref="f0020">FIG. 16</figref>). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.27 (br, 4H), 3.12 (br, 2H), 2.61 (m, 6H), 2.52 (m, 4H), 2.24 (s, 6H), 1.98 (br, 2H), 1.84 (br, 2H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 1.28 (m, 6H), 0.88 (t, 3H). <tables id="tabl0001" num="0001"><table frame="all"><title><b>Table 1: Polymer Characteristics</b></title><tgroup cols="10"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="13mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="22mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="22mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="11mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="26mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="15mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="18mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="8" colname="col8" colwidth="14mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="9" colname="col9" colwidth="15mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="10" colname="col10" colwidth="15mm" align="center" /><thead valign="top"><row><entry><b>Trial</b></entry><entry><b>Monomer 1</b></entry><entry><b>Monomer 2</b></entry><entry><b>M1:M2</b></entry><entry><b>Conversion %</b></entry><entry><b>M_n (theo)</b></entry><entry><b>M_n (THF)</b></entry><entry><b>PDI (THF)</b></entry><entry><b>M_n (DMF)</b></entry><entry><b>PDI (DMF)</b></entry></row></thead><tbody><row><entry><b>A0</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>4:0</entry><entry>89.02</entry><entry>3616</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>3018</entry><entry>2.01</entry></row><row><entry><b>A1</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>85.88</entry><entry>3360</entry><entry>2340</entry><entry>1.65</entry><entry>3792</entry><entry>2.12</entry></row><row><entry><b>A2</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>88.17</entry><entry>3515</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>3332</entry><entry>2.06</entry></row><row><entry><b>A3</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>87.11</entry><entry>3342</entry><entry>4010</entry><entry>1.85</entry><entry>4036</entry><entry>2.18</entry></row><row><entry><b>A4</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>85.58</entry><entry>3588</entry><entry>2687</entry><entry>1.62</entry><entry>4124</entry><entry>2.08</entry></row><row><entry><b>A5</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>85.93</entry><entry>3546</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>3618</entry><entry>1.86</entry></row><row><entry><b>A6</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>84.77</entry><entry>3609</entry><entry>3770</entry><entry>1.71</entry><entry>4388</entry><entry>2.19</entry></row><row><entry><b>A7</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>88.31</entry><entry>3950</entry><entry>3315</entry><entry>1.80</entry><entry>2678</entry><entry>1.94</entry></row><row><entry><b>A8</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>87.22</entry><entry>3722</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>3510</entry><entry>2.00</entry></row><row><entry><b>A9</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>86.72</entry><entry>4057</entry><entry>5660</entry><entry>1.90</entry><entry>4597</entry><entry>2.25</entry></row><row><entry><b>A10</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>87.2</entry><entry>4144</entry><entry>3760</entry><entry>1.70</entry><entry>3876</entry><entry>2.13</entry></row><row><entry><b>A11</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>86.60</entry><entry>3817</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>3556</entry><entry>1.96</entry></row><row><entry><b>A12</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>86.80</entry><entry>4425</entry><entry>6670</entry><entry>1.74</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>A13</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>92.45</entry><entry>4653</entry><entry>5010</entry><entry>1.70</entry><entry>4460</entry><entry>2.17</entry></row><row><entry><b>A14</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>92.12</entry><entry>4189</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>2922</entry><entry>1.88</entry></row><row><entry><b>A15</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>91.42</entry><entry>5045</entry><entry>8990</entry><entry>1.77</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>A16</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>92.63</entry><entry>4922</entry><entry>6164</entry><entry>1.59</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>A17</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>90.55</entry><entry>4245</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>3777</entry><entry>1.32</entry></row><row><entry><b>A18</b></entry><entry>1N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>89.56</entry><entry>5319</entry><entry>8430</entry><entry>1.61</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>B0</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>4:0</entry><entry>87.27</entry><entry>4038</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>2392</entry><entry>1.74</entry></row><row><entry><b>B1</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>89.31</entry><entry>3746</entry><entry>3340</entry><entry>1.76</entry><entry>3743</entry><entry>2.31</entry></row><row><entry><b>B2</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>88.53</entry><entry>3905</entry><entry>2258</entry><entry>1.78</entry><entry>3532</entry><entry>2.00</entry></row><row><entry><b>B3</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.47</entry><entry>3599</entry><entry>5230</entry><entry>1.73</entry><entry>4590</entry><entry>2.04</entry></row><row><entry><b>B4</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>95.23</entry><entry>4261</entry><entry>4525</entry><entry>1.67</entry><entry>4393</entry><entry>1.97</entry></row><row><entry><b>B5</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>94.93</entry><entry>4320</entry><entry>2480</entry><entry>1.72</entry><entry>3649</entry><entry>2.03</entry></row><row><entry><b>B6</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>92.21</entry><entry>4056</entry><entry>7020</entry><entry>1.70</entry><entry>5105</entry><entry>2.09</entry></row><row><entry><b>B7</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>89.49</entry><entry>4255</entry><entry>4610</entry><entry>1.59</entry><entry>4086</entry><entry>2.09</entry></row><row><entry><b>B8</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.40</entry><entry>4194</entry><entry>2571</entry><entry>1.70</entry><entry>3324</entry><entry>2.00</entry></row><row><entry><b>B9</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>93.67</entry><entry>4514</entry><entry>7700</entry><entry>1.52</entry><entry>4276</entry><entry>1.99</entry></row><row><entry><b>B10</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.59</entry><entry>4561</entry><entry>5720</entry><entry>1.54</entry><entry>3855</entry><entry>1.90</entry></row><row><entry><b>B11</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>88.21</entry><entry>4262</entry><entry>2960</entry><entry>1.63</entry><entry>3300</entry><entry>1.87</entry></row><row><entry><b>B12</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.94</entry><entry>4765</entry><entry>8250</entry><entry>1.55</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>B13</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>94.11</entry><entry>5000</entry><entry>6750</entry><entry>1.56</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>B14</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>92.21</entry><entry>4581</entry><entry>2536</entry><entry>1.52</entry><entry>2157</entry><entry>1.88</entry></row><row><entry><b>B15</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>91.11</entry><entry>5156</entry><entry>10280</entry><entry>1.52</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>B16</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>89.24</entry><entry>4992</entry><entry>7300</entry><entry>1.61</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>B17</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>91.36</entry><entry>4667</entry><entry>4070</entry><entry>1.66</entry><entry>3395</entry><entry>2.11</entry></row><row><entry><b>B18</b></entry><entry>2N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>87.87</entry><entry>5342</entry><entry>11220</entry><entry>1.71</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>C0</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>4:0</entry><entry>87.88</entry><entry>4559</entry><entry>4270</entry><entry>1.49</entry><entry>3006</entry><entry>1.69</entry></row><row><entry><b>C1</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>88.42</entry><entry>3957</entry><entry>6680</entry><entry>1.55</entry><entry>4256</entry><entry>1.94</entry></row><row><entry><b>C2</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>87.48</entry><entry>4227</entry><entry>5873</entry><entry>1.34</entry><entry>3938</entry><entry>1.82</entry></row><row><entry><b>C3</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.08</entry><entry>3710</entry><entry>7600</entry><entry>1.57</entry><entry>4510</entry><entry>2.1</entry></row><row><entry><b>C4</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>87.25</entry><entry>4149</entry><entry>7623</entry><entry>1.48</entry><entry>4504</entry><entry>1.86</entry></row><row><entry><b>C5</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>87.5</entry><entry>4350</entry><entry>6860</entry><entry>1.45</entry><entry>4150</entry><entry>1.81</entry></row><row><entry><b>C6</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>87.73</entry><entry>3982</entry><entry>8930</entry><entry>1.60</entry><entry>5030</entry><entry>2.13</entry></row><row><entry><b>C7</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>88.43</entry><entry>4453</entry><entry>8160</entry><entry>1.48</entry><entry>4560</entry><entry>1.85</entry></row><row><entry><b>C8</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>87.83</entry><entry>4490</entry><entry>7120</entry><entry>1.42</entry><entry>3910</entry><entry>1.80</entry></row><row><entry><b>C9</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>87.13</entry><entry>4321</entry><entry>8900</entry><entry>1.55</entry><entry>4760</entry><entry>1.96</entry></row><row><entry><b>C10</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>87.38</entry><entry>4645</entry><entry>8510</entry><entry>1.50</entry><entry>4260</entry><entry>1.90</entry></row><row><entry><b>C11</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>88.62</entry><entry>4654</entry><entry>6480</entry><entry>1.50</entry><entry>3770</entry><entry>1.85</entry></row><row><entry><b>C12</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>86.87</entry><entry>4673</entry><entry>10320</entry><entry>1.53</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>C13</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>91.44</entry><entry>5115</entry><entry>10360</entry><entry>1.65</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>C14</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>91.00</entry><entry>4903</entry><entry>8970</entry><entry>1.59</entry><entry>5320</entry><entry>1.99</entry></row><row><entry><b>C15</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.34</entry><entry>5239</entry><entry>11660</entry><entry>1.53</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>C16</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>89.28</entry><entry>5244</entry><entry>9540</entry><entry>1.66</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>C17</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.85</entry><entry>4967</entry><entry>8120</entry><entry>1.64</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>C18</b></entry><entry>3N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.33</entry><entry>5618</entry><entry>9120</entry><entry>1.71</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D0</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>4:0</entry><entry>87.37</entry><entry>5023</entry><entry>3560</entry><entry>1.46</entry><entry>2410</entry><entry>1.55</entry></row><row><entry><b>D1</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>92.08</entry><entry>4379</entry><entry>5980</entry><entry>1.62</entry><entry>3960</entry><entry>2.03</entry></row><row><entry><b>D2</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>90.03</entry><entry>4729</entry><entry>5183</entry><entry>1.53</entry><entry>3521</entry><entry>1.71</entry></row><row><entry><b>D3</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.23</entry><entry>3843</entry><entry>6580</entry><entry>1.63</entry><entry>4530</entry><entry>1.93</entry></row><row><entry><b>D4</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.20</entry><entry>4542</entry><entry>6590</entry><entry>1.59</entry><entry>4160</entry><entry>1.90</entry></row><row><entry><b>D5</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.67</entry><entry>4835</entry><entry>5720</entry><entry>1.62</entry><entry>3785</entry><entry>1.83</entry></row><row><entry><b>D6</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>91.31</entry><entry>4272</entry><entry>8010</entry><entry>1.67</entry><entry>5030</entry><entry>1.48</entry></row><row><entry><b>D7</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.58</entry><entry>4815</entry><entry>7070</entry><entry>1.54</entry><entry>4100</entry><entry>1.76</entry></row><row><entry><b>D8</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.97</entry><entry>4978</entry><entry>5810</entry><entry>1.55</entry><entry>3480</entry><entry>1.71</entry></row><row><entry><b>D9</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>89.78</entry><entry>4578</entry><entry>8800</entry><entry>1.55</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D10</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.07</entry><entry>5041</entry><entry>7870</entry><entry>1.56</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D11</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.50</entry><entry>5077</entry><entry>6270</entry><entry>1.59</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D12</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>88.67</entry><entry>4895</entry><entry>9030</entry><entry>1.69</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D13</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.16</entry><entry>5296</entry><entry>9110</entry><entry>1.75</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D14</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>90.03</entry><entry>5230</entry><entry>9630</entry><entry>1.54</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D15</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>89.63</entry><entry>5323</entry><entry>9260</entry><entry>1.87</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D16</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>89.76</entry><entry>5524</entry><entry>9770</entry><entry>1.74</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D17</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>92.98</entry><entry>5531</entry><entry>8270</entry><entry>1.68</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>D18</b></entry><entry>4N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.17</entry><entry>5734</entry><entry>9880</entry><entry>1.82</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>E0</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>4:0</entry><entry>84.54</entry><entry>3878</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>2180</entry><entry>1.80</entry></row><row><entry><b>E1</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>87.98</entry><entry>3673</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>3200</entry><entry>2.13</entry></row><row><entry><b>E2</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.66</entry><entry>3928</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>2560</entry><entry>2.00</entry></row><row><entry><b>E3</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>88.47</entry><entry>3511</entry><entry>3652</entry><entry>1.90</entry><entry>3900</entry><entry>2.13</entry></row><row><entry><b>E4</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>89.88</entry><entry>4004</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>3364</entry><entry>2.13</entry></row><row><entry><b>E5</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>88.99</entry><entry>4023</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>2460</entry><entry>2.07</entry></row><row><entry><b>E6</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>89.62</entry><entry>3933</entry><entry>5880</entry><entry>1.71</entry><entry>4670</entry><entry>2.11</entry></row><row><entry><b>E7</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>89.12</entry><entry>4220</entry><entry>2568</entry><entry>1.70</entry><entry>3330</entry><entry>2.02</entry></row><row><entry><b>E8</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.34</entry><entry>4164</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>2310</entry><entry>1.94</entry></row><row><entry><b>E9</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.17</entry><entry>4336</entry><entry>5750</entry><entry>1.65</entry><entry>3770</entry><entry>1.92</entry></row><row><entry><b>E10</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>88.46</entry><entry>4436</entry><entry>3260</entry><entry>1.67</entry><entry>3770</entry><entry>1.91</entry></row><row><entry><b>E11</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>87.22</entry><entry>4187</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>3380</entry><entry>2.11</entry></row><row><entry><b>E12</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>89.21</entry><entry>4665</entry><entry>8700</entry><entry>1.58</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>E13</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>94.41</entry><entry>4997</entry><entry>4190</entry><entry>1.61</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>E14</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.80</entry><entry>4434</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>2390</entry><entry>1.96</entry></row><row><entry><b>E15</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>94.03</entry><entry>5311</entry><entry>11650</entry><entry>1.55</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>E16</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>93.84</entry><entry>5230</entry><entry>5268</entry><entry>1.65</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>E17</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>92.70</entry><entry>4707</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>2500</entry><entry>2.02</entry></row><row><entry><b>E18</b></entry><entry>5N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>88.37</entry><entry>5363</entry><entry>7010</entry><entry>1.67</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>F0</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>4:0</entry><entry>90.14</entry><entry>4387</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>2810</entry><entry>1.85</entry></row><row><entry><b>F1</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.38</entry><entry>3900</entry><entry>4291</entry><entry>1.65</entry><entry>1400</entry><entry>1.45</entry></row><row><entry><b>F2</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>90.68</entry><entry>4163</entry><entry>2740</entry><entry>1.71</entry><entry>3144</entry><entry>1.93</entry></row><row><entry><b>F3</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.43</entry><entry>3652</entry><entry>5940</entry><entry>1.60</entry><entry>2564</entry><entry>1.82</entry></row><row><entry><b>F4</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>91.14</entry><entry>4188</entry><entry>5400</entry><entry>1.59</entry><entry>3805</entry><entry>1.97</entry></row><row><entry><b>F5</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>92.18</entry><entry>4361</entry><entry>3440</entry><entry>1.64</entry><entry>3376</entry><entry>1.93</entry></row><row><entry><b>F6</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.85</entry><entry>4051</entry><entry>8180</entry><entry>1.51</entry><entry>2740</entry><entry>1.85</entry></row><row><entry><b>F7</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>91.56</entry><entry>4464</entry><entry>6013</entry><entry>1.53</entry><entry>4410</entry><entry>2.02</entry></row><row><entry><b>F8</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>93.35</entry><entry>4547</entry><entry>3765</entry><entry>1.69</entry><entry>3471</entry><entry>1.84</entry></row><row><entry><b>F9</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>93.05</entry><entry>4540</entry><entry>8124</entry><entry>1.46</entry><entry>2860</entry><entry>1.84</entry></row><row><entry><b>F10</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>92.93</entry><entry>4791</entry><entry>7326</entry><entry>1.49</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>F11</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>93.53</entry><entry>4687</entry><entry>4100</entry><entry>1.64</entry><entry>4060</entry><entry>1.87</entry></row><row><entry><b>F12</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>92.87</entry><entry>4922</entry><entry>9680</entry><entry>1.52</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>F13</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.40</entry><entry>4912</entry><entry>8050</entry><entry>1.69</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>F14</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>89.21</entry><entry>4593</entry><entry>4320</entry><entry>1.67</entry><entry>2820</entry><entry>1.81</entry></row><row><entry><b>F15</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>91.21</entry><entry>5216</entry><entry>8880</entry><entry>1.69</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>F16</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>91.00</entry><entry>5199</entry><entry>6480</entry><entry>1.75</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>F17</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>92.60</entry><entry>4897</entry><entry>4800</entry><entry>1.40</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>F18</b></entry><entry>6N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>89.77</entry><entry>5511</entry><entry>10897</entry><entry>1.70</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>G0</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>4:0</entry><entry>90.11</entry><entry>4639</entry><entry>NA</entry><entry /><entry>2840</entry><entry>2.26</entry></row><row><entry><b>G1</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>92.74</entry><entry>4131</entry><entry>2285</entry><entry>1.85</entry><entry>2250</entry><entry>1.73</entry></row><row><entry><b>G2</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>91.41</entry><entry>4389</entry><entry>1614</entry><entry>1.91</entry><entry>3390</entry><entry>2.36</entry></row><row><entry><b>G3</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.75</entry><entry>3728</entry><entry>5838</entry><entry>1.85</entry><entry>2610</entry><entry>2.14</entry></row><row><entry><b>G4</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>91.15</entry><entry>4316</entry><entry>5520</entry><entry>1.71</entry><entry>4100</entry><entry>2.42</entry></row><row><entry><b>G5</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>90.72</entry><entry>4483</entry><entry>2950</entry><entry>1.76</entry><entry>3630</entry><entry>2.25</entry></row><row><entry><b>G6</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.39</entry><entry>4094</entry><entry>7853</entry><entry>1.75</entry><entry>2730</entry><entry>2.06</entry></row><row><entry><b>G7</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.37</entry><entry>4532</entry><entry>5481</entry><entry>1.69</entry><entry>4610</entry><entry>2.41</entry></row><row><entry><b>G8</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>90.18</entry><entry>4583</entry><entry>3170</entry><entry>1.71</entry><entry>3440</entry><entry>2.07</entry></row><row><entry><b>G9</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>90.47</entry><entry>4478</entry><entry>8090</entry><entry>1.63</entry><entry>2540</entry><entry>1.92</entry></row><row><entry><b>G10</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.91</entry><entry>4814</entry><entry>5950</entry><entry>1.79</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>G11</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>93.59</entry><entry>4887</entry><entry>3930</entry><entry>1.77</entry><entry>4250</entry><entry>2.21</entry></row><row><entry><b>G12</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>94.34</entry><entry>5066</entry><entry>8860</entry><entry>1.70</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>G13</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.20</entry><entry>5027</entry><entry>6670</entry><entry>1.76</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>G14</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>92.03</entry><entry>4931</entry><entry>4072</entry><entry>1.77</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>G15</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>93.26</entry><entry>5399</entry><entry>8367</entry><entry>1.68</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>G16</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>2:2</entry><entry>90.37</entry><entry>5290</entry><entry>7052</entry><entry>1.71</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>G17</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>3:1</entry><entry>91.17</entry><entry>5013</entry><entry>3412</entry><entry>1.60</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>G18</b></entry><entry>7N-SVL</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>1:3</entry><entry>91.48</entry><entry>5680</entry><entry>8628</entry><entry>1.67</entry><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry><b>C4*</b></entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>4C-SVL</entry><entry>0:4</entry><entry>87.60</entry><entry>3310</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>2360</entry><entry>1.74</entry></row><row><entry><b>C6*</b></entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>6C-SVL</entry><entry>0:4</entry><entry>86.39</entry><entry>3732</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>2600</entry><entry>1.92</entry></row><row><entry><b>C8*</b></entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>8C-SVL</entry><entry>0:4</entry><entry>86.3</entry><entry>4215</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>3350</entry><entry>1.69</entry></row><row><entry><b>C10*</b></entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>10C-SVL</entry><entry>0:4</entry><entry>86.3</entry><entry>4696</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>2750</entry><entry>1.31</entry></row><row><entry><b>C12*</b></entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>12C-SVL</entry><entry>0:4</entry><entry>86.4</entry><entry>5178</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>2860</entry><entry>1.53</entry></row><row><entry><b>C14*</b></entry><entry>NA</entry><entry>14C-SVL</entry><entry>0:4</entry><entry>34.6</entry><entry>2247</entry><entry /><entry /><entry>1510</entry><entry>1.21</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

Example 3: Synthesis and Characterization of Polymers Nanoparticles

0272To date, the most efficacious materials for siRNA delivery have been lipid nanoparticles composed of a cationic or ionizable lipid, DSPC, cholesterol, and lipid poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as shown in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 4A</figref>. (Akincw <i>et al.,</i> 2008, Love et al., 2010, Jayaraman et al., 2012, Coelho <i>et al.,</i> 2013, Zimmermann <i>et al.,</i> 2006 and Semple <i>et al.,</i> 2010). These components reduce aggregation and provide enhanced nanoparticle stability at physiological conditions. With the formulation of polymer:DSPC:Cholesterol:PEG lipid = 50:10:35:5 (by mole), the polymer nanoparticles had an average diameter of 100 nm as measured in PBS by dynamic light scattering. Nanoparticles with tunable size range from 35 nm to 300 nm could be prepared by adjusting the mixing conditions and the formulation components. The morphology of the most efficacious polymer was also studied using electron microscopy. An average diameter of 70 nm was observed, in agreement with DLS results. As can be seen in <figref idref="f0006">FIG. 4B</figref>, the nanoparticle exhibits spherical morphology on TEM. With this composition, for example, a less dense particle shell was observed which probably mainly consists of PEG lipid, while a more textured and electron dense core was observed which probably consists of polymer, siRNA and the other components in the formulation. The concentration of the therapeutic nucleic acid was varied as well as the relative proportions of the delivery components to determine its effect on the nanoparticle size. A graph of the effect on size of the compositions shown in Table 2 is shown in <figref idref="f0019">FIG. 13</figref>. Furthermore, these compositions were studied with different siRNA and showed similar binding of the siRNA (<figref idref="f0019">FIG. 14</figref>). Finally, repetitions of the same compositions show similar sizes as shown in <figref idref="f0019">FIG. 15</figref>. <tables id="tabl0002" num="0002"><table frame="all"><title><b>Table 2: Composition Effects of Size of Nanoparticle</b></title><tgroup cols="4"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="15mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="60mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="62mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="15mm" align="center" /><thead valign="middle"><row><entry><b>Trial</b></entry><entry><b>Total Delivery Component: siRNA (wt)</b></entry><entry><b>A7:cholesterol:DSPC:PEG-lipid (mol)</b></entry><entry><b>d (nm)</b></entry></row></thead><tbody valign="middle"><row><entry>1</entry><entry>7:1</entry><entry>50:38.5:10:1.5</entry><entry>154</entry></row><row><entry>2</entry><entry>7:1</entry><entry>50:35:10:5</entry><entry>95</entry></row><row><entry>3</entry><entry>15:1</entry><entry>50:35:10:5</entry><entry>69</entry></row><row><entry>4</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>50:35:10:5</entry><entry>62</entry></row><row><entry>5</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>70:15:10:5</entry><entry>387</entry></row><row><entry>6</entry><entry>25:1</entry><entry>50:35:10:5</entry><entry>255</entry></row><row><entry>7</entry><entry>25:1</entry><entry>50:30:10:10</entry><entry>114</entry></row><row><entry>8</entry><entry>30:1</entry><entry>50:30:10:10</entry><entry>36</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

Example 4: Polyester-Mediated siRNA delivery <i>In Vitro</i>

0273The lipocationic polyester library was screened <i>in vitro</i> in luciferase-expressing Hela cells with the aid of a Tecan fluid-handling robot. Polymers were diluted and mixed with helper compounds in ethanol at a mol ratio of polymer:DSPC:Cholesterol:PEG lipid = 50:10:38:2. Nanoparticles were then formed by mixing with siLuc in pH 4.2 citrate buffer at a mol ratio of 100:1 (polymer:siRNA), diluted with PBS to raise the pH, and added to growing cells. The One Glo + Tox assay was used to evaluate cytotoxicity and delivery efficiency. RNAiMax (Invitrogen) and untreated cells were used as a positive and negative control, respectively, for cellular transfection. High-throughput screening of the polyester library indicates that the efficacy of the material could be modulated by incorporating different hydrophobic moieties at different monomer feeding ratios. As shown in <figref idref="f0008 f0009 f0010">FIG. 5</figref>, cytotoxicity assay indicates no evidence of adverse effects while 15 % of the polymer library exhibit more than 80% knockdown efficiency. 6 polymers enabled >90% silencing at a dose of 30 nM. Delivery using only DSPC, cholesterol, and lipid PEG did not exhibit significant silencing at this dose. Interestingly, the delivery efficiency strongly correlated with chemical structure. A heat map (<figref idref="f0011">FIG. 6</figref>) organized by feeding ratio of the aminothiol monomer vs. alkylthiol monomer elucidated trends related to hydrophobicity and pKa. For polymers containing the dimethylamine group (<b>M1</b>), additional hydrophobic content is required to promote nanoparticle stability at pH 7.4 and enable delivery. When the hydrophobicity was increased (going to diethylamine (<b>M2</b>) and dipropylamine (<b>M3</b>)), less additional hydrophobic content from the alkyl comonomers was required to give a high delivery efficiency. Polymers made with dibutylamine (<b>M4</b>) showed little activity, likely due to steric hindrance that minimized electrostatic interactions, and possibly due to the further increase in hydrophobicity and pKa. For monomers containing cyclic amine side chains, a similar trend existed, analogous to <b>M1</b> and <b>M2,</b> where more hydrophobic co-monomer was needed to give better delivery efficiency. These data suggest an optimized combination of amine group and hydrophobic co-monomer ratio could greatly enhance the delivery activity of the nanoparticle.

0274To investigate <i>in vitro</i> efficacy at low doses of siRNA, a dose response was conducted for top performing 12 polymers (<figref idref="f0012">FIG 7</figref>). siRNA and polymer containing nanoparticles were incubated with cells at doses between 6.25 ng to 100 ng (siRNA). With the radio of polymer:siRNA held constant at 23:1 (wt:wt). Dose dependent silencing was observed for all the polymers tested. Five polymers were identified which facilitates greater than 60% silencing at an siRNA dosage of 25 ng per well while two polymers showing greater than 70% silencing at a dosage of 6.25 ng per well. In contrast, RNAiMax was not as effective in silencing luciferase expression head-to-head at the same doses.

0275<b>Microscopy.</b> 10,000 HeLa cells/well were plated in chambered glass coverslips and allowed to grow for 1 day. Cells were then exposed to 100 ng NPs containing Cy5.5-labeled siRNA (Sigma-Aldrich) for 24 hours. The cells were washed with PBS, DAPI stained, and imaged using a confocal microscope (<figref idref="f0014 f0015">FIG. 9</figref>).

0276<b><i>In vivo</i> delivery of siRNA to Hepatocytes in Mice.</b> To explore the performance of the nanoparticles <i>in vivo,</i> delivery to hepatocytes was examined <i>in vivo.</i> Results indicate that A7 enables 65% gene silencing in hepatocytes at a dose of 3 mg/kg (<figref idref="f0014 f0015">FIG. 9</figref>).

0277<b>Delivery of siRNA to tumors.</b> The ability of lipocationic polyester NPs to localize and deliver siRNA to tumors was evaluated. A single dose of 2.5 mg/kg siRNA (1.25 mg/kg siLuc + 1.25 mg/kg Cy5.5-siLuc) was delivered via intravenous (IV) tail vein injection to nude mice bearing MDA-MB-231-Luc xenograft tumors in both flanks. After 2.5 hours, remarkably high tumor accumulation of A1 NPs was measured (<figref idref="f0014 f0015">FIG. 10A</figref>). Fluorescence signals from the liver and kidneys were also visualized. <i>Ex vivo</i> imaging of harvested organs confirmed effective tumor uptake (<figref idref="f0017">FIG. 11</figref>). Moreover, luciferase activity in the tumors was greatly reduced after intratumoral (IT) injection of 2.5 mg/kg siLuc. Luciferase was quantified by bioluminescence (<figref idref="f0016">FIG. 10B</figref>) and by tissue homogenization on total protein and tissue levels (<figref idref="f0016">FIG. 10C</figref>). Tumor reduction can be seen after 48 hours relative to tumor size after 5 minutes (<figref idref="f0018">FIG. 12</figref>).

0278<b>Synthetic Scale-Up Conditions.</b> A gram scale reaction was carried out for copolymer <b>A6</b> to examine scalability: <b>A6</b>: Synthesis of <i>poly{4-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)thio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}-r-poly{4-(hexylthio)tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-one}.</i> Monomer <b>N1</b> (0.25 g, 1.2×10^-3 mol) and Monomer <b>C6</b> (0.8 g, 3.6×10^-3 mol) were added to a flame-dried glass vial. 153 µL Methyl lithium (1.6 M in ether) was then added into the reaction vial to initiate the polymerization. The polymer was collected after 5 minutes and dialyzed against THF for 4 hours. The polymer was then concentrated and dried via vacuum pump for 24 hours. Yield = 87.7%. The polymer was characterized via NMR and GPC (<figref idref="f0020">FIG. 16A</figref>). ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 4.27 (br, 4H), 3.12 (br, 2H), 2.61 (m, 6H), 2.52 (m, 4H), 2.24 (s, 6H), 1.98 (br, 2H), 1.84 (br, 2H), 1.55 (m, 2H), 1.28 (m, 6H), 0.88 (t, 3H).

0279<b>Degradation of the Polymer Delivery Components.</b> The degradation of the polymeric components was measured by measurement of polymer after exposure to 1M HCl (<i>aq.</i>) for 24 hours. Two representative copolymers are shown in <figref idref="f0020">FIG. 17</figref> and Table 3. <tables id="tabl0003" num="0003"><table frame="all"><title><b>Table 3: Degradation of Polymer after 24 hours in 1M HCl (aq.).</b></title><tgroup cols="7"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="18mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="18mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="21mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="21mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="30mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="30mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="30mm" align="center" /><thead valign="middle"><row><entry><b>Polymer</b></entry><entry><b>Initial <i>M</i>_n (GPC)</b></entry><entry><b>Initial <i>M</i>_w (GPC)</b></entry><entry><b>Initial PDI (GPC)</b></entry><entry><b>After 24 hrs <i>M</i>_n (GPC)</b></entry><entry><b>After 24 hrs <i>M</i>_w (GPC)</b></entry><entry><b>After 24 hrs PDI (GPC)</b></entry></row></thead><tbody valign="middle"><row><entry><b>C7</b></entry><entry>4000</entry><entry>5900</entry><entry>1.5</entry><entry>1700</entry><entry>2800</entry><entry>1.6</entry></row><row><entry><b>B9</b></entry><entry>4200</entry><entry>8600</entry><entry>2.1</entry><entry>2500</entry><entry>5400</entry><entry>2.2</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0280<b>Synthetic Studies of Polymerization Initiator.</b> A variety of different polymerization initiators and reaction conditions were studied for the preparation of the polymers described herein. Grignard reagents are also able to initiate polymerization. Various conditions were attempted, and are summarized below in Table 4. <tables id="tabl0004" num="0004"><table frame="all"><title><b>Table 4: Study of Polymerization Initiators</b></title><tgroup cols="8"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="16mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="18mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="23mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="17mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="9mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="20mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="20mm" align="center" /><colspec colnum="8" colname="col8" colwidth="12mm" align="center" /><thead valign="middle"><row><entry><b>Mon</b></entry><entry><b>M:I ratio</b></entry><entry><b>Initiator</b></entry><entry><b>Solvent</b></entry><entry><b>T</b></entry><entry><b>Conv. (%)</b></entry><entry><b>M_n (GPC)</b></entry><entry><b>PDI</b></entry></row></thead><tbody valign="middle"><row><entry>N1</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>C₁₂H₂₅MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>68.3</entry><entry>4,680</entry><entry>1.66</entry></row><row><entry>N2</entry><entry>10:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>THF</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>17.5</entry><entry>2,470</entry><entry>1.56</entry></row><row><entry>N2</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>78.11</entry><entry>5,740</entry><entry>1.58</entry></row><row><entry>N2</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>toluene</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>26.5</entry><entry>3,580</entry><entry>1.64</entry></row><row><entry>N2</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>THF</entry><entry>-78</entry><entry>28.82</entry><entry>3,720</entry><entry>1.86</entry></row><row><entry>N2</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>59.0</entry><entry>7,200</entry><entry>1.39</entry></row><row><entry>N2</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>toluene</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>23.0</entry><entry>3,820</entry><entry>1.41</entry></row><row><entry>N2</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>THF</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>25.3</entry><entry>5,550</entry><entry>1.54</entry></row><row><entry>N3</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>59.0</entry><entry>4,730</entry><entry>1.46</entry></row><row><entry>N4</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>73.6</entry><entry>6,480</entry><entry>1.33</entry></row><row><entry>N4</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>82.3</entry><entry>4,280</entry><entry>1.27</entry></row><row><entry>N5</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>66.7</entry><entry>3,110</entry><entry>1.44</entry></row><row><entry>N6</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>60.9</entry><entry>3,180</entry><entry>1.43</entry></row><row><entry>C8</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>84.19</entry><entry>5,700</entry><entry>1.37</entry></row><row><entry>C8</entry><entry>20:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>toluene</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>16.32</entry><entry>2,620</entry><entry>1.43</entry></row><row><entry>N1+C8</entry><entry>10:10:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>84.02</entry><entry>7,100</entry><entry>1.51</entry></row><row><entry>N1+C8</entry><entry>15:5:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>74.45</entry><entry>4,600</entry><entry>1.46</entry></row><row><entry>N1+C8</entry><entry>5:15:1</entry><entry>CH₃MgBr</entry><entry>bulk</entry><entry>r.t.</entry><entry>81.1</entry><entry>8,590</entry><entry>1.40</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0281<b>Measurement of pKa of Polymers through pH titration.</b> The selected copolymer (15 mg) was first dissolved in 100 µL THF and transferred into 20 mL deionized and purified water with 90 µL 1.0 M HCl (<i>aq.</i>)<i>.</i> The pH titration was carried out by adding 5 µL of 1M NaOH solution (<i>aq.</i>) under stirring. The pH increase in the range of 2 to 12 was monitored as a function of total added volume of NaOH (V_NaOH). The pH values were measured using a Mettler Toledo pH meter with a microelectrode.

0282To further explore activity trends, pH titrations were performed to measure the pKa of a polymer series that displayed a clear siRNA delivery efficacy trend. Within the C8 (2:2) group, polymers A7 (2:2), B7 (2:2), C7 (2:2), and D7 (2:2) were analyzed. The pKa decreased from N1 to N4 and is shown in <figref idref="f0021">FIG. 18</figref>.

0283All of the compositions and methods disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this disclosure have been described in terms of certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the disclosure. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain agents which are both chemically and physiologically related may be substituted for the agents described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

<u>REFERENCES</u>

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