Cell-Specific Transfection Protocols

Note: Invitrogen Lipofectamine Transfection Reagent Protocols have been optimized for efficiency, viability, and reproducibility across a broad range of cell types. This is often the best place to start, especially in a new cell line. If you find this doesn’t work for your specific cell type, then you can look to our cell-specific protocols below for further optimization.

Cell Type	Source	Application	Recommended Invitrogen Transfection Reagent	Recommended Transfection SKU
0 - 9
10T1/2	Mouse embryonic fibroblast	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
3T3L1	Mouse fibroblast	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
786-O	Human renal cell adenocarcinoma cells	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
A-F
A549	Human lung carcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
A549	Human lung carcinoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
ACHN	Human renal cancer	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
ARPE-19	Human retina	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
B16-F10	Mouse melanoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine	18324-012	18324-020
BAEC	Bovine aortic endothelial cells	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
BGOV-1	Human embryonic stem cells	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
BHK-21	Hamster kidney	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Breast Adipose Fibroblasts	Human breast adipose	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
C2C12	Mouse muscle myoblast	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
C3A	Human hepatocellular Carcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
C6	Rat glioma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Caco-2	Human colorectal adenocarcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Cardiac Fibroblasts	Adult rat heart	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
CaSki	Human cervical carcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 LTX	15338-100	15338-500
COS 7L	Monkey kidney fibroblast	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
COS 7L	Monkey kidney fibroblast	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
CV-1	Primate kidney	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
CV-1	Primate kidney	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
D3	Mouse embryonic stem cells	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
D3	Mouse embryonic stem cells	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Daoy	Human medulloblastoma cell line	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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
Embryonic stem cells in Essential 8 medium	Human embryonic cell	Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP	Lipofectamine Stem	L3000008
Embryonic stem cells in mTeSR1	Human embryonic cell	Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP	Lipofectamine Stem	L3000008
Embryonic stem cells in StemFlex medium	Human embryonic cell	Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP	Lipofectamine Stem	L3000008
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HaCaT	Human immortalized keratinocytes	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HASMC	Human aortic smooth muscle cells	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HCT116	Human colon carcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HCT116	Human colon carcinoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
HEK 293	Human embryonic kidney	Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HEK 293	Human embryonic kidney	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HEK 293	Human embryonic kidney	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
HeLa S3	Human cervical carcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HeLa S3	Human cervical carcinoma	Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Hippocampal Neurons	Rat brain	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
Hippocampal Neurons	Rat brain	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HL60	Human lymphoblast	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HMEC-1	Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine LTX	15338-100	15338-500
HMVEC-L	Human lung microvascular endothelial cells	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
HNSCC	Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
HT 29	Human colon adenocarcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HT1080	Human fibrosarcoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
HT1080	Human fibrosarcoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells	Human bone marrow	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells	Human bone marrow	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
HUVEC	Human umbilical vein cord	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
HUVEC	Human umbilical vein cord	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
I - M
IMR-90	Human embryonic lung	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
IMR-90	Human embryonic lung	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Induced pluripotent stem cells in Essential 8 medium	Human somatic cells	Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP	Lipofectamine Stem	L3000008
Induced pluripotent stem cells in mTeSR1	Human somatic cells	Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP	Lipofectamine Stem	L3000008
Induced pluripotent stem cells in StemFlex medium	Human somatic cells	Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP	Lipofectamine Stem	L3000008
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
L929	Mouse fibroblast cell line	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
LC-NCI-H23	Non-small cell, epid.	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
LNCap	Human prostate cancer	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
MCF 7	Human breast cancer	Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
MDA-MB-231	Human breast adenocarcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
MDA-MB-435	Human breast adenocarcinoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
MDA-MB-435	Human breast adenocarcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
MDCK	Madin-Darby canine kidney	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
MRC-5	Human lung	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
NDHF	Neonatal dermal fibroblast	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Neonatal Rat Ventricular Cardiomyocyte	Rat heart muscle	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
Neural progenitor cells, Primary	Embryonic mouse brain	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Neural stem cell	Human brain cells	Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP	Lipofectamine Stem	L3000008
Neuro2A	Mouse brain neuroblastoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
NHFF	Human diploid somatic fibroblast	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
NIH 3T3	Mouse embryonic fibroblast	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
NT2	Human teratocarcinoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
NTera2	Human embryonic carcinoma stem cell	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
P19	Mouse embryonal carcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
PC12	Rat neuronal	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
PC3	Human prostate adenocarcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Rat1	Rat fibroblast cells	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
RAW264.7	Mouse macrophage cells	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
RPC-C2A	Rat dental pulp cells	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
S - W
S2-013	Human pancreas	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Saos-2	Human osteosarcoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Sf9	Insect ovary	DNA	Cellfectin	10362-010
SK-BR3	Human breast carcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
SK-MEL-28	Human malignant melanoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
SK-N-SH	Human neuroblastoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
SK-N-SH	Human neuroblastoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
SK-OV-3	Human ovarian adenocarcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
SNB19	Human glioblastoma cell line	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
SW1417	Human colon adenocarcinoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
SW480	Human colon adenocarcinoma	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
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 3000	L3000008	L3000015
THP-1	Human monocytic leukemia	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
U251	Human glial	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
U2OS	Human osteosarcoma	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150
U87	Human astrocyte	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
Vero	African green monkey kidney	Plasmid DNA	Lipofectamine 3000	L3000008	L3000015
WI-38(VA13)	Normal human fetal lung fibroblast	siRNA	Lipofectamine RNAiMAX	13778-075	13778-150