For use in transporting biologically active species into and through membrane barriers, a cationic amine compound is utilized that has the general structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a pair of same or different lipoyl moieties selected from a group consisting of an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkanoyl, alkenoyl, or alkynoyl groups and for R.sub.1 R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 at least two are hydroxylated, ether containing, or acyloxy containing alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups or at least one amine bonded halogen containing moiety selected from a group consisting of a halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group or a mixture of at least one halogen containing moiety selected from a group consisting of a halogenated alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group and at least one hydroxylated, ether containing, or acyloxy containing alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl group, and X.sup.- is an anion.