MaxCyte Platform > Technology > General Performance
MaxCyte transfection technology has unmatched flexibility and enables rapid transfection of up to 1x1010 cells using
optimized, pre-loaded electroporation protocols. MaxCyte electroporation can be used with both adherent and suspension
cell types including difficult to transfect cell lines and primary cells. It routinely produces high quality results
with high transfection efficiencies and cell viability levels. Transfected cells have proven performance in a wide range
of assays and clinical cell therapy applications.
High Quality Transfection with Unmatched Flexibility
Transfection EfficiencySummarized below are transfection results using MaxCyte electroporation in combination with the pre-loaded, cell type-specific protocols. High levels of transgene expression and cell viability for a wide range of cell types are produced.
Figure 1. High efficiency, high viability transfection. Ten different cell types were transfected with 200µg/ml pGFP
DNA using the appropriate pre-loaded protocol. 24 hrs post transfection cells were examined for cell viability
(% cells excluding propidium iodide) and transfection efficiency (% GFP+ cells).
Primary Cell EfficienciesThe demand for biologically relevant assays within early phase drug discovery continues to grow. Incorporating primary cells and stem cells within these campaigns has been limited due to the low transfection efficiencies of these cell populations. Thus, most high throughput and high content screening campaigns have been performed using cell lines. MaxCyte electroporation eliminates that limitation through its proven capacity to transfect primary cells with the quality and reproducibility required for use in drug discovery programs.
MaxCyte electroporation is also suitable for use with primary cells in clinical settings. MaxCyte scientists have an extensive background in transfection of primary cells with DNA, RNA, mRNA, proteins and cell lysates within cell therapy development, manufacturing, and delivery. The cell viability, efficiency, and importantly, the safety of MaxCyte technology set it apart from all other primary cell modification technologies.
Table 1: High efficiency transfection of primary cells. Results of transfecting a range of primary cells with a GFP expression
plasmid using MaxCyte electroporation technology. The transfection efficiency is expressed as % cells GFP+ at 24 hours post
electroporation; viability is expressed as the % cells excluding propidium iodide.
DNA Concentration vs. Cell Viability
MaxCyte electroporation in itself does not significantly affect cell viability. High concentrations of DNA, however, may decrease cell viability, a phenomenon known as DNA toxicity. Figure 1 represents a basic DNA titration of a GFP expression plasmid in CHO cells which demonstrates the relationship of DNA concentration and cell viability. As expected, cell viability was negatively impacted in a DNA concentration dependent fashion. Transfection efficiency, as measured by the number of GFP positive cells, was 98 to 100% for cells transfected with any of the DNA concentrations. The level of GFP expression (mean fluorescence intensity), however, was DNA concentration dependent. The optimum DNA concentration for a given application is determined by the user to attain the desired balance between transgene expression and cell viability.
Figure 2. DNA concentration vs. cell viability. CHO K1 cells were loaded with increasing concentrations of a GFP
expression plasmid in a series of small-scale, static electroporations. Cells were analyzed 24 hours post
electroporation for GFP expression and cell viability.
High Efficiency Transfection using Pre-loaded Cell-type Specific Electroporation Protocols
The MaxCyte STX enables transfection of a variety of cell lines, historically difficult-to-transfect cells, primary cells and stem cells using preprogrammed electroporation protocols. Standard electroporation protocols provide an optimal blend of loading efficiency and cell viability, which are ideally suited for generating cells for use in cell-based assays. MaxCyte scientists have developed additional protocols for CHO and HEK cells that are designed specifically for high level protein expression.Current List of MaxCyte STX Protocols
Our list of optimized, pre-loaded protocols is continually expanding. Please ask your account manager for the most up-to-date list. Don't see your cells on the protocol list? MaxCyte scientists are available to consult with clients to identify the most appropriate protocol.
| CHO | Jurkat | Hep G2 | U2OS | RBL | COS-7 |
| Hela | K562 | CV-1 | SH-Sy5y | Neuro2a | LNCaP |
| HEK 293 | NIH 3T3 | THP-1 | COS-1 | NSO | DLD-1 |
| Huh-7 | Renca | Min-6 | A549 | C6 | C2C12 |
| Primary Fibroblasts | Vero | Panc-1 | PC-3 | CaCo-2 | |
| Mesenchymal Stem Cells | PC12 | L5278Y | BHK-21 | RLE |