The present invention discloses highly packed polycationic ammonium, sulfonium and phosphonium lipid compounds useful for making lipid aggregates for delivery of macromolecules and other compounds into cells. They are especially useful for the DNA-dependent transformation of cells. Methods for their preparation and use as intracellular delivery agents are also disclosed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/131,539, filed Apr. 23, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,716,882, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/648,492, filed Aug. 25, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,663, which, in turn, was a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/187,676, filed Nov. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,916, which, in turn, was a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/782,783, filed Jan. 13, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,439, which, in turn, was a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/171,232, filed Dec. 20, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,908, all of which are incorporated by reference herein to the extent not inconsistent herewith.
