Pyridinium amphiphiles have found practical application for the delivery of DNA into eukaryotic cells. A general synthetic method starting from (iso)nicotinoyl chloride has been devised for the preparation of pyridinium amphiphiles based on (bio)degradable esters, allowing structural variation both in the hydrophobic part and in the headgroup area. By means of differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron mi-

A conceptually new class of cationic amphiphiles, Sunfish amphiphiles, designed for the delivery of genes into cells is introduced. Sunfish amphiphiles have two hydrophobic tails, connected at the 4-and the N-position to the cationic pyridinium headgroup. Two extreme morphologies visualised by backfolding and combining of both tails at one site (matching situation) or unfolding of the tails at distinct interaction sites at biological membranes will lead to considerable differences in morphological behaviour. The underlying rationale allows controlled release by using this morphological alteration of

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