Transfection Selection Tool

Transfection of DNA, siRNA, oligonucleotides, and RNA into mammalian cells is a critical step in many research efforts of the biomedical scientific community including gene silencing using RNAi, transient gene expression studies, protein/antibody production, and generation of stable cell lines.  However, successful transfection is no trivial matter.

To simplify the transfection optimization process, we have created a transfection selection tool that provides recommended transfection reagent with optimized protocol for 120 cell lines.  Use the following tables to locate your cell type(s) of interest, application, recommended transfection reagent, and a reference protocol.

Cell Type Source Application Recommended Transfection Reagent Recommended Transfection SKU Protocol/
Reference
0 - 9
10T1/2 Mouse embryonic fibroblast Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ and PLUS™ Reagent 18324-012 18324-020 11514-015 Page
293-F  Human kidney Protein Production 293fectin™ 12347-019     PDF
293T Human embryonic kidney siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
3T3L1 Mouse fibroblast Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 Page
3T3L1 Mouse fibroblast siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
786-O Human renal cell adenocarcinoma cells siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
A-F
A549 Human lung carcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
A549 Human lung carcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
ACHN Human renal cancer  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
ARPE-19 Human retina Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX 15338-100 15338-500   PDF
B16-F10 Mouse melanoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 18324-012 18324-020   Page
BAEC Bovine aortic endothelial cells  siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
BGOV-1 Human embryonic stem cells Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
BHK-21 Hamster kidney Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
Breast Adipose Fibroblasts Human breast adipose siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
C2C12 Mouse muscle myoblast Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
C3A Human hepatocellular Carcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
C6 Rat glioma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
Caco-2 Human colorectal adenocarcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
Cardiac Fibroblasts Adult rat heart siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
CaSki Human cervical carcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ and PLUS™ Reagent 18324-012 18324-020 11514-015 Page
CHO K1 Hamster ovary Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX  15338-100 15338-500   PDF
CHO-S  Hamster ovary Protein Production FreeStyle™ MAX Reagent 16447-100 16447-500   PDF
CMMT Rhesus monkey mammary. tumor  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
Cortical Neurons, E18 Rat brain Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
COS 7L Monkey kidney fibroblast siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
COS 7L Monkey kidney fibroblast Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
CV-1 Primate kidney siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
CV-1 Primate kidney Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ and PLUS™ Reagent 18324-012 18324-020   Page
D3 Mouse embryonic stem cells siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
D3 Mouse embryonic stem cells Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
Daoy Human medulloblastoma cell line Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
DL-3 Mouse T lymphoma  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
DLD-1 Human colon adenocarcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
DT40  Chicken Bursa siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
EOC Human epithelial ovarian cancer  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
Foreskin Fibroblast, Primary Human foreskin siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
G - H
Glial Cell Mouse brain siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
GripTite™ 293 MSR Human kidney Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
HaCaT Human immortalized keratinocytes Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 18324-012 18324-020   Page
HASMC Human aortic smooth muscle cells Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
HCT116 Human colon carcinoma  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
HCT116 Human colon carcinoma  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
HEK 293 Human embryonic kidney Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
HEK 293 Human embryonic kidney Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
HEK 293 Human embryonic kidney siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
HeLa S3 Human cervical carcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX 15338-100 15338-500   PDF
HeLa S3 Human cervical carcinoma Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
HeLa S3 Human cervical carcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
Hepatocytes, Primary Mouse liver  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
HepG2 Human liver carcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
HepG2 Human liver carcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
Hippocampal Neurons Rat brain siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
Hippocampal Neurons Rat brain Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX 15338-100 15338-500   PDF
HL60 Human lymphoblast Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
HMEC-1 Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells Plasmid DNA Lipofectin® 18292-011 18292-037   Page
HMVEC-L Human lung microvascular endothelial cells siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500v PDF
HNSCC Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
HT 29 Human colon adenocarcinoma  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
HT1080 Human fibrosarcoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
HT1080 Human fibrosarcoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
HT1376 Human grade III transitional bladder cell carcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
Huh-7 Human hepatocellular carcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
Huh-7 Human hepatocellular carcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectin® and PLUS™ Reagent 18292-011 18292-037   Page
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Human bone marrow siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Human bone marrow Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
HUVEC Human umbilical vein cord siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
HUVEC Human umbilical vein cord Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
I - M
IMR-90 Human embryonic lung siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
IMR-90 Human embryonic lung Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
INS-1 Rat pancreatic {beta}-cell line siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
JEG-3 Human choriocarcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
Jurkat Human T-cell leukemia Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
JygMC(A) Mouse mammary carcinoma  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
K562 Human myelogenous leukemia siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
K562 Human myelogenous leukemia Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
L929 Mouse fibroblast cell line Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
LC-NCI-H23 Non-small cell, epid. Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
LNCap Human prostate cancer Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
LS180 Human colon carcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
LSMC Human leiomyoma smooth muscle cells  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
M21 Human melanoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectin®  18292-011 18292-037   Page
McA-RH7777 Rat hepatoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
MCF 7 Human breast cancer siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
MCF 7 Human breast cancer Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX 15338-100 15338-500   PDF
MCF 7 Human breast cancer Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
MDA-MB-231 Human breast adenocarcinoma  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
MDA-MB-435 Human breast adenocarcinoma  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
MDA-MB-435 Human breast adenocarcinoma  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
MDCK Madin-Darby canine kidney Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
MDCK Madin-Darby canine kidney siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
MDM Human monocyte-derived macrophages  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
ME-180 Human cervical carcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
MEF Mouse embryonal fibroblast cells Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
Mesangial Cells, Primary Rat kidney siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
mIMCD3 Murine inner medullary collecting duct  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
MIN6 Mouse pancreatic {beta}-cell line siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
MLT Mouse Leydig tumor siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
Molt-4 Human T lymphoblast  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
MRC-5 Human lung  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
N - R
N2a-APP  Mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells stably expressing human APP695  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
N-38 Mouse hypothalamic cell line siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
NB  Human neuroblastoma  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
NBS Human Nijmegen breakage syndrome cells  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
NCI-H460 Human large cell lung cancer  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
NDHF  Neonatal dermal fibroblast Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
Neonatal Rat Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Rat heart muscle siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
Neural Progenitor Cells, Primary Embryonic mouse brain  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
Neuro2A Mouse brain neuroblastoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX 15338-100 15338-500   PDF
Neuro2A Mouse brain neuroblastoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
NG108-15 Hybrid of mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 and rat glioma C6-BU-1 cells Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
NHFF Human diploid somatic fibroblast Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
NIH 3T3 Mouse embryonic fibroblast Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
NIH 3T3 Mouse embryonic fibroblast siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
NOR-10 (H-2b) Mouse skeletal muscle cell line siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
NRK Rat normal kidney siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
NT2 Human teratocarcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
NTera2 Human embryonic carcinmoa stem cell  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
OLN-93, Primary Rat brain glial cultures siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
OLP, Primary Rat cerebra siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
P19 Mouse embryonal carcinoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
P19 Mouse embryonal carcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
PC12 Rat neuronal Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
PC3 Human prostate adenocarcinoma  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
Rat1 Rat fibroblast cells siRNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
RAW264.7  Mouse macrophage cells Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
RPC-C2A  Rat dental pulp cells siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
S - W
S2-013 Human pancreas Plasmid DNA Lipofectin® 18292-011 18292-037   Page
Saos-2 Human osteosarcoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
Sf9  Insect ovary DNA Cellfectin® 10362-010     Page
SK-BR3 Human breast carcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
SK-MEL-28 Human malignant melanoma  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
SK-N-SH Human neuroblastoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
SK-N-SH Human neuroblastoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   PDF
SK-OV-3 Human ovarian adenocarcinoma  Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 PDF
SNB19 Human glioblastoma cell line Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 18324-012 18324-020   Page
SW1417 Human colon adenocarcinoma  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
SW480 Human colon adenocarcinoma Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
T47D Human mammary adenocarcinoma  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
T98G Human brain siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
THP-1 Human monocytic leukemia Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
THP-1 Human monocytic leukemia siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
U251 Human glial Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ LTX and PLUS™ Reagent 15338-100 15338-500 11514-015 PDF
U2OS Human osteosarcoma siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page
U87 Human astrocyte Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 18324-012 18324-020   Page
Vero African green monkey kidney Plasmid DNA Lipofectamine™ 2000 11668-019 11668-027 11668-500 Page
WI-38(VA13) Normal human fetal lung fibroblast  siRNA Lipofectamine™ RNAiMAX 13778-075 13778-150   Page