Promega ViaFect Transfection Reagent

Promega has announced ViaFect Transfection Reagent, a tool for efficient DNA transfer into a wide variety of cell lines, including challenging suspension cells and stem-cell-derived lines. The product allows researchers to develop transfection-based assays in the cell line most relevant for their biology of interest.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell models, such as Cellular Dynamics International’s iCell Cardiomyocytes, show robust transfection with the reagent, enabling assays not possible with other reagents. The product is said to offer high-performance transfection in diverse cell lines and iPSC-derived tissue cells.

The low-toxicity reagent allows cells to stay healthy and metabolically active during transfection-based experiments, even at low cell densities, facilitating experiments where extended application of a treatment is needed. Cell viabilities of greater than 90% are said to be routinely observed following transfection with the product.

The reagent requires minimal optimisation with a simple three-step protocol. It does not require removal of serum, removal of culture medium or washing after introduction of the reagent/DNA complex. It contains no animal-derived components.