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Video: MaxCyte STX Workflow
Poster: Advancing Drug Discovery with the MaxCyte® STX™ Scalable Transient Transfection System: Expression of Intracellular, Membrane-Bound and Secreted Proteins in Physiologically Relevant Cell Lines, Primary Cells and Stem Cells
MaxCyte Platform > Instruments > MaxCyte STX
The MaxCyte® STX™ Scalable Transfection System enables rapid development and consistent production of transfected cells for use in High Throughput Screening (HTS), High Content Screening (HCS), and pre-clinical protein production. It eliminates the reliance on stable cell lines and gives users the flexibility to (co)transfect cell lines, primary cells, and stem cells with DNA, RNA and proteins. Transfection efficiencies are routinely greater than 85% and cell viability greater than 90%. The MaxCyte STX can perform small-scale transfections (5x105 cells in seconds) for basic research and assay development or perform large-scale transfections (up to 1x1010 cells in less than 30 minutes) for use in protein production or for full-scale, screening and profiling. It can help you develop assays faster, and in more biologically relevant cell types, increasing the productivity of your laboratory and improving the quantity and quality of your drug candidates.
MaxCyte STX Scalable Transfection System
- Fully scalable, able to transfect 5x105 cells in seconds up to 1x1010 cells in < 30 minutes
- Compatible with primary cells, stems cells and other difficult-to-transfect cell lines
- Superior performance with reduced day-to-day assay variability
- Computer controlled, plug and play system
- Time-, labor- and cost-effective alternative to stable cell lines
Applications
- GPCR, Ion Channel and Other Target Screening
- siRNA Knock Down
- Protein Production
- Reporter Gene Assays
- High Content Screening
MaxCyte STX Features
Simple: |
Pre-loaded with cell-type specific optimized protocols; plug and play transfection |
Broad Range: |
Cell lines, primary cells, stem cells |
Loading Agents: |
DNA, RNA, siRNA, proteins, small molecules |
High Yield: |
>90% viability & recovery for many cell types |
High Efficiency: |
>90% cell loading & transfection efficiency for many cell types |
Scalable: |
5x105 cells to 4x107 using small-scale; up to 1x1010 cells using large-scale flow electroporation |
Rapid: |
5x105 cells in seconds; 1x1010 cells in less than 30 minutes |
HTS Compatible: |
Rapid, bulk transfections; able to cryopreserve transfected cells |
Robust: |
Reproducible & consistent processing |
Safe: |
Chemically defined media; sterile closed processing assemblies |
Quality: |
cGMP compliant, ISO-certified, CE marked |
Regulatory: |
Master File on record with USFDA |
Transfecting cells with the MaxCyte® STX™ scalable transfection system
The MaxCyte STX can be used for small-scale or large-scale (co)transfection of a wide range of cell types with a variety of biomolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins). The instrument is supplied with pre-loaded electroporation protocols optimized for a wide range of cell types which simplifies assay development and maximizes transfection performance and reproducibility. Identical protocols and cell handling are used for small and large-scale electroporation enabling streamlined scaling to high throughput transfection. MaxCyte transient transfection is completed in three easy steps: Cell harvesting, electroporation & post electroporation cell usage.Cell Preparation
Cells are harvested from culture using standard methods and suspended at high density (typically 5x107-1x108 cells/mL) in MaxCyte's electroporation (EP) buffer, a physiologically balanced salt solution that contains no biological agents. The same buffer formuation is used for every cell type.
Cell Electroporation
Cells are mixed with loading agents and transferred to sterile, single use processing assemblies (PAs). Cells can be transfected with multiple types and combinations of loading agents, including DNA, mRNA, siRNA, proteins and small molecules. Small scale transfections (5x105-4x107 cells) are performed by static electroporation (completed in seconds) in OC-100 and OC-400 PAs; large scale transfections (up to 1x1010 cells) are performed by flow electroporation (less than 30 minutes) in CL-2 PAs. The STX instrument comes loaded with a variety of electroporation protocols that are optimized for individual cell types; the user does not need to make any adjustments to the electrical parameters. The user transfers the PA to the MaxCyte STX instrument, selects the appropriate protocol by cell type, and clicks the start icon on the computer.
Post Electroporation Cell Handling
After electroporation, cells are transferred from the PA to a sterile, multi-well dish (for OC-100/400s) or T-flask (for CL-2 EPs) and allowed to recover for 20 minutes at 37°C. The cells are then resuspended in standard tissue culture medium and either plated for immediate use in cellular assays or cryopreserved for future use. MaxCyte has developed several cryopreservation protocols that enable cell archiving while maximizing cell viability and target expression upon thawing.
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 |
Transfection Efficiencies of Various Cell Types using Pre-loaded Protocols
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).
Associated processing assemblies and buffers
Products associated with the MaxCyte STX transfection system include one-time use sterile processing assemblies (PAs) and a proprietary electroporation buffer. The choice of processing assembly is determined by transfection volume and the number of cells to be electroporated. A single electroporation buffer is used for all cell types being transfected. Recommendations:
OC100 – 100µl volume, 5x105 to 4x107 cells
OC400 – 400µl volume, 2x106-4x107
CL1.1 – 3mL volume, 1.5x107 to 3x108
CL2 – 10 to 100mL volume, 5x108-1x1010 cells
| Part Number | Description |
| OC-100R10 | OC-100 Processing Assemblies (100 μl volume), Lot of 10 Units, includes 100 mL Electroporation Buffer |
| OC-400R10 | OC-400 Processing Assemblies (400 μl volume), Lot of 10 Units, includes 100 mL Electroporation Buffer |
| CL1.1-R1 | CL-1 Processing Assemblies (3ml volume), Lot of One Unit, includes100 mL Electroporation Buffer |
| CL1.1-R10 | CL-1 Processing Assemblies (3ml volume), Lot of 10 Units, includes 10 - 100 mL Bottles of Electroporation Buffer |
| CL2-R1 | CL-2 Processing Assemblies (10ml – 100 ml volume), Lot of One Unit, includes 500 mL Electroporation Buffer |
| CL2-R10 | CL-2 Processing Assemblies (10ml – 100 ml volume), Lot of 10 Units, including 10 - 500 mL Bottles of Electroporation Buffer |
| EBR100 | Electroporation Buffer, 100mL |
| EBR500 | Electroporation Buffer, 500mL |