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Cytofect™ Neuron Transfection Kit
Transfection of RCON with a GFP-expression plasmid using CF1 with PE, 1 day (Top) or 3 days (Bottom) post-transfection.

Cytofect™ Neuron Transfection Kit

The Cytofect™ Neuron Transfection Kit is a plasmid DNA delivery system specifically engineered for difficult-to-transfect neuronal cells, including primary central and peripheral neurons.

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Description

CAI Box Total Kit

The Cytofect™ Neuron Transfection Kit is a plasmid DNA delivery system specifically engineered for difficult-to-transfect neuronal cells, including primary central and peripheral neurons. While chemical transfection of postmitotic primary neurons remains historically challenging, the Cytofect™ system balances effective payload delivery with minimal cytotoxicity. Under manufacturer-tested conditions, the kit yields transfection efficiencies of 10–20% while maintaining 80–95% cell viability, supporting downstream morphological, functional, and single-cell imaging workflows.

Neurons are electrically excitable cells that form the functional communication network of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The Cytofect™ system is compatible across diverse primary neuronal populations:

  • CNS Cortical & Hippocampal Neurons: Central models for learning, memory formation, synaptic plasticity, and neurodegeneration (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease).
  • Midbrain & Striatal Neurons: Key models for dopaminergic signaling, motor control, circuit integration, and movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and addiction studies).
  • Peripheral & Sensory Neurons: Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) neurons and autonomic/sensory populations used in pain biology, neuroinflammation, and peripheral neuropathy research.
The Cytofect™ Neuron Transfection Kit provides a complete system containing Cytofect-1, a endosomolytic Peptide Enhancer, transfection medium, and antibiotic-free growth medium. The Peptide Enhancer complexes with plasmid DNA and Cytofect-1 to facilitate cellular uptake and promote endosomal escape into the cytoplasm, bypassing the severe cytotoxic stress associated with harsher physical or viral transfection methods.

Plasmid transfection in primary postmitotic neurons enables transient gene expression, reporter construct evaluation, and pathway knock-in studies. Key research applications include:

  • Neurodevelopment & Plasticity: Tracking dendrite arborization, axonal growth cone dynamics, spine morphogenesis, and synaptogenesis.
  • Electrophysiology & Signaling: Evaluating ion-channel activity, neurotransmitter receptor trafficking, synaptic transmission, and neurocircuitry responses.
  • Disease Modeling & Neurodegeneration: Investigating protein aggregation, oxidative stress, axonal transport deficits, and neuroinflammatory responses in models of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and inherited neuropathies.
  • Neurotoxicity & Drug Screening: Assessing candidate neurotherapeutics, chemical toxicity, and compound effects on neuronal network viability and morphology.

Transfection, the introduction of nucleic acid into mammalian cells, is a powerful technique used to study in vivo gene function and regulation.  The Cytofect™ Neuron Transfection kit is a plasmid DNA delivery system specifically optimized to deliver DNA into Neurons. This kit contains Cytofect-1, Peptide Enhancer and Media for transfection and culturing cells. Peptide Enhancer complexes with DNA and Cytofect-1 and escorts the transfection complex to the nucleus. This results in high transfection efficiency and viability for these traditionally hard-to-transfect primary cells.

#Wells / Rxns

96 / 340

24 / 100

12 / 50

The Kit contains all necessary reagents, media and optimized protocols to carry out successful transfection of Neurons with good efficiency (10-20%) and viability (80%-95%).

Products are for research use only. They are not intended for human, animal, or diagnostic applications. TR1 and PE are manufactured by Targeting Systems.

Details

Kit Contents: Cytofect-1
Peptide Enhancer (PE)
Antibiotics-Free Growth Medium
Transfection Medium
Designed to improve transfection efficiency and cell viability, Cytofect is a plasmid DNA delivery system containing Cytofect-2, Enhancer and Media for transfecting and culturing cells. The Enhancer is an endosomolytic peptide that complexes with DNA and Cytofect-2, then escorts the transfection complex to the nucleus. The results are high transfection efficiency and viability for traditionally hard-to-transfect cells.
Instructions TF886K

Format: PDF

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Instructions TF886KS

Format: PDF

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FAQs

Need More Help?

Visit our comprehensive FAQ page for detailed answers to common questions.

Cytofect™ Transfection Reagents: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Need More Help?

Visit our comprehensive FAQ page for detailed answers to common questions.

Cytofect™ Transfection Reagents: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Citations

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