Avanti™ DOPE

1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE) is a type of neutral phospholipid that displays sensitivity to changes in acidity (pH change). At acidic, it is an inverted hexagonal micelle and becomes spherical micelle at alkaline pH. DOPE is a neutral helper phospholipid used in gene and drug delivery liposomal formulations. When combined with cationic phospholipids, DOPE increases the transfection efficiency in a variety of cell types.

DOPE, also known as 18:1 (Δ9-Cis) PE, is a phospholipid that contains unsaturated oleic acid at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, a melting temperature of ~30 °C and a conical shape. DOPE tends to adopt an inverted hexagonal H(II) phase, which destabilizes endosomal membranes and facilitates endosomal escape of lipid nanoparticles.

Scientists have used DOPE to create liposomes for multiple experiments, such as studying a protein called UCP1 and protein conjugation in a worm species identified as Caenorhabditis elegans. It's also used to make large vesicles called GUVs (giant unilamellar vesicles) for studying how specific proteins deform membranes, also called septin-induced deformation studies.

Additionally, it has been used to measure the monolayer spontaneous curvature (C0s), which indicates the lipid layer's shape. An anionic phospholipid enables the hydrophobic surfactant proteins to change spontaneous curvature.

When DOPE is combined with DOTAP, it shows high in vitro transfection efficiency, meaning it effectively transfers genes in lab settings. Furthermore, it forms a stable lipid layer and rapidly merges with the outer layer of cell membranes known as the endosomal lipid bilayer.

DOPE plays a key role in mRNA vaccines due to its ability to stabilize the vaccine as well as facilitate their uptake into cells.