In the twelve years we've been supplying biochips and micropumps to the life sciences, one technique in the field has remained consistently indispensable; transfection. In fact, with the explosion of gene-editing technologies (CRISPR, anyone?), this technique is even more important than ever. But monitoring cells from beginning to end of transfection, in real-time has been impossible - until now.
Transfection efficiency: the past and present
Existing end-point assays for evaluation transfection efficiency include reporter systems and direct visualisation of nucleic acid delivery.
Reporter systems include GFP, luciferase, beta-galactosidase and secreted alkaline phosphatase. Direct visualisation of nucleic acid delivery includes techniques such as nucleic acid labelling, fluorescent labels (such as cyanine dyes or flourescein), epitope tags, or intercalating dyes.
These assays are reliable but have the disadvantage that they are generally low-throughput, laborious, time-intensive and rely on methods which fundamentally alter functional DNA.
#CellixTech have been busy developing and innovating analysis so your transfection experiments can be optimised to give the most complete and informative results.
The future - 3 ways #CellixTech improves your transfection:
#CellixTech can be used to
1. Increase overall transfection efficiency
2. Increase quality of gene transfection data
3. Fast-track successful gene transfection methods and quickly optimise experimental conditions
The distinct advantage between #CellixTech and classic flourescence technology.
When it comes to high throughput cell analysis, #CellixTech goes beyond the simple live/dead cell analysis; our impedance-based Inish Analyser provides a quantitative analysis of the cell's health.
In practical terms; you can observe, in real-time:
* The state of the cell membrane before transfection
* The different cell populations after competency treatments
* Whole, intact membranes
* Damaged membranes
* Open membranes - competent for gene uptake: this technology is totally unique to Cellix
* Dead cells
* the recovery of the cell membrane after various treatments, such as electroporation, cell squeezing (French press), Microinjection, and many other physical transfection methods
* Different cell population profiles - the Inish is also capable of cell sorting based on size, membrane integrity, granule size....
All this, in a portable system; capable of the highest throughput, but suitable for even the smallest benchtops. Whether you're looking for large-scale protein production or get more accurate data in a small scale experiment, we can tailor our technology for you.
Interested in improving your gene transfection methods? Talk to us about a free demo - we can help you utilise #CellixTech for maximum efficiency and yield.
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