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