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 TypeSourceApplicationRecommended Transfection ReagentRecommended Transfection SKUProtocol/
Citation
0–9
10T1/2Mouse embryonic fibroblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
293-FHuman kidneyProtein Production293fectin12347-019 Protocol
293THuman embryonic kidneysiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
3T3L1Mouse fibroblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
3T3L1Mouse fibroblastsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
786-OHuman renal cell adenocarcinoma cellssiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
A–F
A549Human lung carcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
A549Human lung carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
ACHNHuman renal cancerPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
ARPE-19Human retinaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
B16-F10Mouse melanomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine18324-01218324-020Citation 
BAECBovine aortic endothelial cellssiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
BGOV-1Human embryonic stem cellsPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
BHK-21Hamster kidneyPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Breast Adipose FibroblastsHuman breast adiposesiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
C2C12Mouse muscle myoblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
C3AHuman hepatocellular CarcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
C6Rat gliomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Caco-2Human colorectal adenocarcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Cardiac FibroblastsAdult rat heartsiRNALipofectamine  RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
CaSkiHuman cervical carcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
CHO K1Hamster ovaryPlasmid DNALipofectamine LTX15338-10015338-500Protocol
CHO-SHamster ovaryProtein ProductionFreeStyle MAX Reagent16447-10016447-500Protocol 
CMMTRhesus monkey mammary. tumorsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
Cortical Neurons, E18Rat brainPlasmid DNALipofectamine LTX15338-10015338-500Protocol 
COS 7LMonkey kidney fibroblastsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
COS 7LMonkey kidney fibroblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
CV-1Primate kidneysiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
CV-1Primate kidneyPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
D3Mouse embryonic stem cellssiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
D3Mouse embryonic stem cellsPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
DaoyHuman medulloblastoma cell linePlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
DL-3Mouse T lymphomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
DLD-1Human colon adenocarcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
DT40Chicken BursasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
Embryonic stem cells in Essential 8 mediumHuman embryonic cellPlasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNPLipofectamine StemL3000008Citation 
Embryonic stem cells in mTeSR1Human embryonic cellPlasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNPLipofectamine StemL3000008Citation 
Embryonic stem cells in StemFlex mediumHuman embryonic cellPlasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNPLipofectamine StemL3000008Citation 
EOCHuman epithelial ovarian cancersiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
Foreskin Fibroblast, PrimaryHuman foreskinsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
G–H
Glial CellMouse brainsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
GripTite 293 MSRHuman kidneyPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HaCaTHuman immortalized keratinocytesPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HASMCHuman aortic smooth muscle cellsPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HCT116Human colon carcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HCT116Human colon carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
HEK293Human embryonic kidneyCo-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HEK293Human embryonic kidneyPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HEK293Human embryonic kidneysiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
HeLa S3Human cervical carcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HeLa S3Human cervical carcinomaCo-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HeLa S3Human cervical carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
Hepatocytes, PrimaryMouse liversiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
HepG2Human liver carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
HepG2Human liver carcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Hippocampal NeuronsRat brainsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
Hippocampal NeuronsRat brainPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HL60Human lymphoblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HMEC-1Human dermal microvascular endothelial cellsPlasmid DNALipofectamine LTX15338-10015338-500Protocols
HMVEC-LHuman lung microvascular endothelial cellssiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
HNSCCHuman head and neck squamous cell carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
HT 29Human colon adenocarcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HT1080Human fibrosarcomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
HT1080Human fibrosarcomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HT1376Human grade III transitional bladder cell carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
Huh-7Human hepatocellular carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
Huh-7Human hepatocellular carcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Human Mesenchymal Stem CellsHuman bone marrowsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
Human Mesenchymal Stem CellsHuman bone marrowPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
HUVECHuman umbilical vein cordsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
HUVECHuman umbilical vein cordPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
I–M
IMR-90Human embryonic lungsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
IMR-90Human embryonic lungPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Induced pluripotent stem cells in Essential 8 mediumHuman somatic cellsPlasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNPLipofectamine StemL3000008Citation 
Induced pluripotent stem cells in mTeSR1Human somatic cellsPlasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNPLipofectamine StemL3000008Citation 
Induced pluripotent stem cells in StemFlex mediumHuman somatic cellsPlasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNPLipofectamine StemL3000008Citation 
INS-1Rat pancreatic {beta}-cell linesiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
JEG-3Human choriocarcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
JurkatHuman T-cell leukemiaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
JygMC(A)Mouse mammary carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
K562Human myelogenous leukemiasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
K562Human myelogenous leukemiaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
L929Mouse fibroblast cell linePlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
LC-NCI-H23Non-small cell, epid.Plasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
LNCapHuman prostate cancerPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
LS180Human colon carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
LSMCHuman leiomyoma smooth muscle cellssiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
M21Human melanomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
McA-RH7777Rat hepatomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
MCF 7Human breast cancersiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
MCF 7Human breast cancerPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
MCF 7Human breast cancerCo-transfect Plasmid DNA and siRNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
MDA-MB-231Human breast adenocarcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
MDA-MB-435Human breast adenocarcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
MDA-MB-435Human breast adenocarcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
MDCKMadin-Darby canine kidneyPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
MDCKMadin-Darby canine kidneysiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
MDMHuman monocyte-derived macrophagessiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
ME-180Human cervical carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
MEFMouse embryonal fibroblast cellsPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Mesangial Cells, PrimaryRat kidneysiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150 
mIMCD3Murine inner medullary collecting ductsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
MIN6Mouse pancreatic {beta}-cell linesiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
MLTMouse Leydig tumorsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation
Molt-4Human T lymphoblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
MRC-5Human lungPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
N–R
N2a-APPMouse neuroblastoma N2a cells stably expressing human APP695siRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
N-38Mouse hypothalamic cell linesiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
NBHuman neuroblastomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
NBSHuman Nijmegen breakage syndrome cellssiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
NCI-p60Human large cell lung cancerPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
NDHFNeonatal dermal fibroblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Neonatal Rat Ventricular CardiomyocyteRat heart musclesiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150 
Neural progenitor cells, PrimaryEmbryonic mouse brainPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Neural stem cellHuman brain cellsPlasmid DNA, mRNA, Cas9 RNPLipofectamine StemL3000008Citation 
Neuro2AMouse brain neuroblastomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Neuro2AMouse brain neuroblastomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
NG108-15Hybrid of mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 and rat glioma C6-BU-1 cellsPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
NHFFHuman diploid somatic fibroblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
NIH 3T3Mouse embryonic fibroblastPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
NIH 3T3Mouse embryonic fibroblastsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
NOR-10 (H-2b)Mouse skeletal muscle cell linesiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
NRKRat normal kidneysiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
NT2Human teratocarcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
NTera2Human embryonic carcinoma stem cellPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
OLN-93, PrimaryRat brain glial culturessiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
OLP, PrimaryRat cerebrasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
P19Mouse embryonal carcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
P19Mouse embryonal carcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
PC12Rat neuronalPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
PC3Human prostate adenocarcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Rat1Rat fibroblast cellssiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
RAW264.7Mouse macrophage cellsPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
RPC-C2ARat dental pulp cellssiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
S–W
S2-013Human pancreasPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
Saos-2Human osteosarcomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
SK-BR3Human breast carcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
SK-MEL-28Human malignant melanomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
SK-N-SHHuman neuroblastomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
SK-N-SHHuman neuroblastomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Protocol 
SK-OV-3Human ovarian adenocarcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
SNB19Human glioblastoma cell linePlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
SW1417Human colon adenocarcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
SW480Human colon adenocarcinomaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
T47DHuman mammary adenocarcinomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
T98GHuman brainsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
THP-1Human monocytic leukemiaPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
THP-1Human monocytic leukemiasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
U251Human glialPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
U2OSHuman osteosarcomasiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 
U87Human astrocytePlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
VeroAfrican green monkey kidneyPlasmid DNALipofectamine 3000L3000008L3000015Protocol 
WI-38(VA13)Normal human fetal lung fibroblastsiRNALipofectamine RNAiMAX13778-07513778-150Citation 

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.