 The MATra principle
Magnet Assisted Transfection (MATra) is a new, easy-to-handle, very fast and highly efficient technology to transfect cells in culture. All types of nucleic acids from plasmid DNA or siRNA to oligonucleotides can be used with the MATra approach. Data from a variety of species using cell lines or primary tissue culture have accumulated including human, monkey, mouse, rat, xenopus, pig, cat or fish. Using this new technique, nucleic acids are in a first step associated with specific magnetic nanoparticles (MagTag™). Exploiting magnetic force the full nucleic acid dose is then drawn towards and delivered into the target cells leading to efficient transfection without disturbing the membrane architecture, without causing chromosomal damage or leaving a hole in the cell membrane like other transfection technologies. Two approaches are possible: for a standard Magnet Assisted Transfection "MATra-A or MATra-si Reagents" is used; for more critical cells it is also possible to combine the MATra technology with lipofection ("Magnet Assisted Lipofection"). For this purpose, we are offering "MA Lipofection Enhancer" and the new high-efficiency lipofection reagent "IBAfect".
Both techniques can be used with adherent cells as well as with suspension cells. However, for suspension cells, cells have to be localized at the bottom of the wells of cell culture plates to take advantage of the magnetic field in an optimal way. For this purpose cells can be immobilized temporarily (using MATra-S Immobilizer) or modified culture vessels can be used. MATra can also be adapted to high-throughput transfection assays using robotic stations and adapted protocols.
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