Lipids and fatty acids

Lipids are used in food, nutrition, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and research. Lipid nanoparticles for mRNA vaccines and gene therapies made high purity synthetic phospholipids, PEG lipids and ionisable lipids a fast growing specialty market. Natural lecithins and phospholipids are used in liposomes, emulsions and supplements, and fish and algal oils supply omega-3 fatty acids.

Ask for purity by HPLC or GC, fatty acid composition, peroxide and anisidine values for unsaturated lipids, residual solvents, heavy metals, and for injectable grades the endotoxin level and the regulatory documentation. Unsaturated lipids oxidise easily, so they should be stored cold under inert gas. Some ionisable lipids are protected by patents, so check freedom to operate for commercial use.