Conventional cationic lipid transfection reagents form lipoplexes through electrostatic interaction with negatively charged nucleic acids. They rely on endosomal disruption for cytoplasmic release. Lipid nanoparticles use more precisely formulated ionisable lipid systems instead. These are pH responsive: they become cationic only at endosomal pH, giving efficient release while reducing toxicity at physiological pH. LNPs typically show higher efficiency and lower toxicity in hard-to-transfect and primary cells.
Cells & Cell Culture
Transfection Reagents and Cell Culture Media
Transfection reagents and cell culture media for reliable nucleic acid delivery into mammalian cells
Choosing the right combination matters when you maintain cell culture and need to introduce plasmid DNA, siRNA, or mRNA into your cells of interest.
Basal media for standard mammalian cell culture include DMEM/F-12, Eagle's MEM, MEM alpha without nucleosides, William's E, Ham's F-12, and F-12K. These take fetal bovine serum as a supplement, or serum-free alternatives for primary cells and stem cell work. Cell-type-specific media support primary cell lineages. Xeno-free formulations support stem cell and organoid culture. Together, these options cover a wide range of your cell types.
Gentle cell detachment reagents offer a protease-containing alternative to trypsin. They give a lower-perturbation option for lifting adherent primary cells, without harming your downstream assay performance.
For transfection, lipid-based reagents deliver plasmid DNA into your adherent cell lines at predictable lipid-to-DNA ratios. Dedicated suspension-cell formulations work better for your cell types that respond poorly to standard cationic lipid methods.
A focused range of RNA transfection reagents and kits support your efficient, low-toxicity nucleic acid delivery. The EZ-LNP RNA transfection kit uses lipid nanoparticle technology to deliver mRNA, circRNA, gRNA, siRNA, or saRNA. It needs no specialised equipment: mixing and adding to your cells takes under a minute. RNAfection is a nanotechnology-based reagent for high-efficiency mRNA transfection. It keeps toxicity low across a broad range of your cell types, with a simple 20 minute protocol. DIVERSA FluoGreen mRNA delivery nanoparticles use a biocompatible, biodegradable lipid system to transfect mRNA into difficult-to-transfect cells, without any specialised tools. For siRNA and miRNA delivery, Endofectin RNAi transfection reagent works well even in the presence of serum, across common cell lines including HEK293, HeLa, and A549.
Applications
Transient gene overexpression and knockdown
Lipid-based reagents deliver plasmid DNA for overexpression, or siRNA for knockdown, in your adherent lines such as HEK293 and HeLa.
mRNA delivery for reprogramming and therapeutic modelling
Lipid nanoparticle reagents deliver mRNA into your primary cells and iPSC-derived cells, with lower immune activation than plasmid DNA.
siRNA and miRNA functional studies
Endofectin RNAi reagent delivers siRNA and miRNA even with serum present. The EZ-LNP kit reaches your harder-to-transfect cells with RNAi tools.
Suspension-cell transfection
Dedicated suspension-cell formulations transfect your cell types that respond poorly to standard cationic lipid methods, beyond adherent lines.
Gentle primary-cell passaging
Protease-containing, lower-perturbation detachment reagents lift adherent primary cells for your downstream assays, as an alternative to standard trypsin.
Xeno-free stem cell and organoid culture
Xeno-free basal media and supplements maintain your stem cell and organoid cultures ahead of transfection or functional assays.
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Transfection Reagents
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Frequently asked questions
Plasmid DNA transfection gives a longer expression duration because the plasmid persists in the nucleus, and stable integration is possible. mRNA transfection produces faster protein expression. It avoids nuclear import requirements and cannot integrate into the genome. With modified nucleosides, it also triggers a lower innate immune response. Choose mRNA when you need transient expression, fast kinetics, or want to avoid genomic modification.
Standard cationic lipid reagents often show low efficiency and high toxicity in primary cells. mRNA-optimised lipid reagents, electroporation, or lipid nanoparticle systems generally work better. For iPSC-derived cell types, choose xeno-free validated reagents to maintain culture purity. Optimising the lipid-to-nucleic-acid ratio, seeding density, and cell-cycle state at the time of transfection all affect your outcome.
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