Genetic transfection is a very useful and basic molecular biology technique of introducing nucleic acids into cells. In general terms, to transfect means to introduce genetic material (DNA, RNA, siRNA) into eukaryotic cells using chemical methods and without the use of viruses or electroporation machines.
A couple of chemical methods are available to perform this function, but the most efficient and popular is through the use of cationic (i.e. positively charged) lipids, typically referred to as the “transfection reagents”. Once added to the negatively charged DNA, the lipid micro droplets encapsulate the DNA or RNA molecules and allow the mix to be packaged into a tight sphere called “plasmid lipoplexes”. Transfection occurs when the lipoplex vesicles merge with cell membranes, both made up of phospholipid bilayers, therefore transferring the material to be delivered inside the cells.
Lipid-based transfections, or “lipofection”, have multiple advanges, like low cost (especially when compared with viral and electroporator-based methods), ease of use, reproducibility, flexibility, low cell toxicity, and high efficiency. Another great advantage of lipofection is its popularity and long history, which translate into multiple citations and scientific groundwork that vastly assist scientists in their choice of reagents and protocols.
BioCat offers a wide range of transfection reagents optimized for different applications and cell types.