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 Transfection Reagent | Recommended Transfection SKU | Protocol/ Citation | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0–9 | ||||||
10T1/2 | Mouse embryonic fibroblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
293-F | Human kidney | Protein Production | 293fectin | 12347-019 | Protocol | |
293T | Human embryonic kidney | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
3T3L1 | Mouse fibroblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
3T3L1 | Mouse fibroblast | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
786-O | Human renal cell adenocarcinoma cells | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
A–F | ||||||
A549 | Human lung carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
A549 | Human lung carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
ACHN | Human renal cancer | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
ARPE-19 | Human retina | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
B16-F10 | Mouse melanoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine | 18324-012 | 18324-020 | Citation |
BAEC | Bovine aortic endothelial cells | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
BGOV-1 | Human embryonic stem cells | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
BHK-21 | Hamster kidney | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Breast Adipose Fibroblasts | Human breast adipose | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
C2C12 | Mouse muscle myoblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
C3A | Human hepatocellular Carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
C6 | Rat glioma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Caco-2 | Human colorectal adenocarcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Cardiac Fibroblasts | Adult rat heart | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
CaSki | Human cervical carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
CHO K1 | Hamster ovary | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine LTX | 15338-100 | 15338-500 | Protocol |
CHO-S | Hamster ovary | Protein Production | FreeStyle MAX Reagent | 16447-100 | 16447-500 | Protocol |
CMMT | Rhesus monkey mammary. tumor | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
Cortical Neurons, E18 | Rat brain | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine LTX | 15338-100 | 15338-500 | Protocol |
COS 7L | Monkey kidney fibroblast | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
COS 7L | Monkey kidney fibroblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
CV-1 | Primate kidney | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
CV-1 | Primate kidney | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
D3 | Mouse embryonic stem cells | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
D3 | Mouse embryonic stem cells | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Daoy | Human medulloblastoma cell line | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
DL-3 | Mouse T lymphoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
DLD-1 | Human colon adenocarcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
DT40 | Chicken Bursa | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
Embryonic stem cells in Essential 8 medium | Human embryonic cell | Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP | Lipofectamine Stem | L3000008 | Citation | |
Embryonic stem cells in mTeSR1 | Human embryonic cell | Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP | Lipofectamine Stem | L3000008 | Citation | |
Embryonic stem cells in StemFlex medium | Human embryonic cell | Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP | Lipofectamine Stem | L3000008 | Citation | |
EOC | Human epithelial ovarian cancer | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
Foreskin Fibroblast, Primary | Human foreskin | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
G–H | ||||||
Glial Cell | Mouse brain | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
GripTite 293 MSR | Human kidney | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HaCaT | Human immortalized keratinocytes | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HASMC | Human aortic smooth muscle cells | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HCT116 | Human colon carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HCT116 | Human colon carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
HEK293 | Human embryonic kidney | Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HEK293 | Human embryonic kidney | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HEK293 | Human embryonic kidney | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
HeLa S3 | Human cervical carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HeLa S3 | Human cervical carcinoma | Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HeLa S3 | Human cervical carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
Hepatocytes, Primary | Mouse liver | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
HepG2 | Human liver carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
HepG2 | Human liver carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Hippocampal Neurons | Rat brain | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
Hippocampal Neurons | Rat brain | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HL60 | Human lymphoblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HMEC-1 | Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine LTX | 15338-100 | 15338-500 | Protocols |
HMVEC-L | Human lung microvascular endothelial cells | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
HNSCC | Human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
HT 29 | Human colon adenocarcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HT1080 | Human fibrosarcoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
HT1080 | Human fibrosarcoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HT1376 | Human grade III transitional bladder cell carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
Huh-7 | Human hepatocellular carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
Huh-7 | Human hepatocellular carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells | Human bone marrow | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells | Human bone marrow | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
HUVEC | Human umbilical vein cord | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
HUVEC | Human umbilical vein cord | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
I–M | ||||||
IMR-90 | Human embryonic lung | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
IMR-90 | Human embryonic lung | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Induced pluripotent stem cells in Essential 8 medium | Human somatic cells | Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP | Lipofectamine Stem | L3000008 | Citation | |
Induced pluripotent stem cells in mTeSR1 | Human somatic cells | Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP | Lipofectamine Stem | L3000008 | Citation | |
Induced pluripotent stem cells in StemFlex medium | Human somatic cells | Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP | Lipofectamine Stem | L3000008 | Citation | |
INS-1 | Rat pancreatic {beta}-cell line | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
JEG-3 | Human choriocarcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
Jurkat | Human T-cell leukemia | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
JygMC(A) | Mouse mammary carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
K562 | Human myelogenous leukemia | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
K562 | Human myelogenous leukemia | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
L929 | Mouse fibroblast cell line | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
LC-NCI-H23 | Non-small cell, epid. | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
LNCap | Human prostate cancer | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
LS180 | Human colon carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
LSMC | Human leiomyoma smooth muscle cells | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
M21 | Human melanoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
McA-RH7777 | Rat hepatoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
MCF 7 | Human breast cancer | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
MCF 7 | Human breast cancer | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
MCF 7 | Human breast cancer | Co-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
MDA-MB-231 | Human breast adenocarcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
MDA-MB-435 | Human breast adenocarcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
MDA-MB-435 | Human breast adenocarcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
MDCK | Madin-Darby canine kidney | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
MDCK | Madin-Darby canine kidney | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
MDM | Human monocyte-derived macrophages | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
ME-180 | Human cervical carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
MEF | Mouse embryonal fibroblast cells | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
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 | Citation |
MIN6 | Mouse pancreatic {beta}-cell line | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
MLT | Mouse Leydig tumor | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
Molt-4 | Human T lymphoblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
MRC-5 | Human lung | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
N–R | ||||||
N2a-APP | Mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells stably expressing human APP695 | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
N-38 | Mouse hypothalamic cell line | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
NB | Human neuroblastoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
NBS | Human Nijmegen breakage syndrome cells | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
NCI-p60 | Human large cell lung cancer | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
NDHF | Neonatal dermal fibroblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
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 | Protocol |
Neural stem cell | Human brain cells | Plasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNP | Lipofectamine Stem | L3000008 | Citation | |
Neuro2A | Mouse brain neuroblastoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Neuro2A | Mouse brain neuroblastoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
NG108-15 | Hybrid of mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 and rat glioma C6-BU-1 cells | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
NHFF | Human diploid somatic fibroblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
NIH 3T3 | Mouse embryonic fibroblast | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
NIH 3T3 | Mouse embryonic fibroblast | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
NOR-10 (H-2b) | Mouse skeletal muscle cell line | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
NRK | Rat normal kidney | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
NT2 | Human teratocarcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
NTera2 | Human embryonic carcinoma stem cell | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
OLN-93, Primary | Rat brain glial cultures | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
OLP, Primary | Rat cerebra | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
P19 | Mouse embryonal carcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
P19 | Mouse embryonal carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
PC12 | Rat neuronal | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
PC3 | Human prostate adenocarcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Rat1 | Rat fibroblast cells | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
RAW264.7 | Mouse macrophage cells | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
RPC-C2A | Rat dental pulp cells | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
S–W | ||||||
S2-013 | Human pancreas | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Saos-2 | Human osteosarcoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
SK-BR3 | Human breast carcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
SK-MEL-28 | Human malignant melanoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
SK-N-SH | Human neuroblastoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
SK-N-SH | Human neuroblastoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Protocol |
SK-OV-3 | Human ovarian adenocarcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
SNB19 | Human glioblastoma cell line | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
SW1417 | Human colon adenocarcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
SW480 | Human colon adenocarcinoma | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
T47D | Human mammary adenocarcinoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
T98G | Human brain | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
THP-1 | Human monocytic leukemia | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
THP-1 | Human monocytic leukemia | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
U251 | Human glial | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
U2OS | Human osteosarcoma | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
U87 | Human astrocyte | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
Vero | African green monkey kidney | Plasmid DNA | Lipofectamine 3000 | L3000008 | L3000015 | Protocol |
WI-38(VA13) | Normal human fetal lung fibroblast | siRNA | Lipofectamine RNAiMAX | 13778-075 | 13778-150 | Citation |
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.