Hiperfect Transfection Reagent Handbook: Fifth Edition October 2010

Fifth Edition October 2010
HiPerFect Transfection Reagent

Handbook
For transfection of eukaryotic cells with siRNA

and miRNA
Sample & Assay Technologies

QIAGEN Sample and Assay Technologies
QIAGEN is the leading provider of innovative sample and assay technologies, enabling
the isolation and detection of contents of any biological sample. Our advanced, high-
quality products and services ensure success from sample to result.
QIAGEN sets standards in:
I Purification of DNA, RNA, and proteins
I Nucleic acid and protein assays
I microRNA research and RNAi
I Automation of sample and assay technologies
Our mission is to enable you to achieve outstanding success and breakthroughs. For
more information, visit www.qiagen.com .
Contents
Kit Contents 5
Shipping and Storage 5
Quality Control 5
Product Use Limitations 5
Product Warranty and Satisfaction Guarantee 6
Technical Assistance 6
Safety Information 7
Introduction 8
Principle and procedure 8
Protocols for various cell types and for special applications 10
Reagents to Be Supplied by User 13
Important Notes 14
Calculating concentrations of siRNA 14
Optimizing siRNA transfection 14
Calculating siRNA and reagent for different formats 16
Transfection in multiwell plates – preparing a master mix 17
Performing appropriate RNAi control experiments 17
Monitoring gene silencing at the mRNA or protein level 18
Protocols for adherent cells
I Fast-Forward Transfection of Adherent Cells with siRNA/miRNA
in 24-Well Plates 20
I Reverse Transfection of Adherent Cells with siRNA/miRNA
I Reverse Transfection of Adherent Cells with siRNA/miRNA
I Transfection of Adherent Cells with siRNA/miRNA (Traditional Protocol) 26
Protocols for suspension cells and macrophages
I Transfection of Suspension Cell Lines, Including Jurkat and K562,
with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates 28
I Transfection of Macrophage Cell Lines, Including J774.A1 and RAW 264.7,
I Transfection of Differentiated Macrophage Cell Lines, Including THP-1,
HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 3

Protocols for primary cells
I Transfection of HUVEC Cells with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates 34
I Transfection of Fibroblasts with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates 36
I Transfection of Keratinocytes with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates 38
I Transfection of Epithelial Cells with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates 40
I Transfection of Smooth Muscle Cells with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates 42
I Guidelines for Transfection of Primary Neurons with siRNA/miRNA
I Guidelines for Transfection of Primary Hepatocytes with siRNA/miRNA
Protocols for special applications
I Large-Scale Transfection of Adherent Cells with siRNA/miRNA
in 100 mm dishes 48
I Long-Term Transfection of Adherent Cells with siRNA/miRNA 50
Troubleshooting Guide 52
Appendix A: Optimizing siRNA Transfection of Suspension and Macrophage Cells 55
Appendix B: Recommendations for Primary Cells 59
References 62
Ordering Information 63
4 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

Kit Contents
HiPerFect Transfection 0.5 ml 1 ml 4 x 1 ml 100 ml
Reagent
Catalog no. 301704 301705 301707 301709
Transfections per kit Up to 166 Up to 333 Up to Up to
(in 24-well plates) 1332 1388
24-well
plates
HiPerFect Transfection 0.5 ml 1 ml 4 x 1 ml 100 ml
Reagent
Handbook 1 1 1 1
Shipping and Storage

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent is supplied as a ready-to-use solution and is shipped at
ambient temperature without loss of stability. However, it should be stored at 2–8°C
upon arrival. HiPerFect Transfection Reagent does not need to be stored on ice during
the transfection procedure.
Quality Control
In accordance with QIAGEN’s ISO-certified Quality Management System, each lot of
HiPerFect Transfection Reagent is tested against predetermined specifications to ensure
consistent product quality.
Product Use Limitations

The HiPerFect Transfection Reagent is intended for molecular biology applications. This
product is not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.
All due care and attention should be exercised in the handling of the products. We
recommend all users of QIAGEN® products to adhere to the NIH guidelines that have
been developed for recombinant DNA experiments, or to other applicable guidelines.

Product Warranty and Satisfaction Guarantee
QIAGEN guarantees the performance of all products in the manner described in our
product literature. The purchaser must determine the suitability of the product for its
particular use. Should any product fail to perform satisfactorily due to any reason other
than misuse, QIAGEN will replace it free of charge or refund the purchase price. We
reserve the right to change, alter, or modify any product to enhance its performance
and design. If a QIAGEN product does not meet your expectations, simply call your
local Technical Service Department or distributor. We will credit your account or
exchange the product — as you wish. Separate conditions apply to QIAGEN scientific
instruments, service products, and to products shipped on dry ice. Please inquire for
more information.
A copy of QIAGEN terms and conditions can be obtained on request, and is also
provided on the back of our invoices. If you have questions about product specifications
or performance, please call QIAGEN Technical Services or your local distributor (see
back cover or visit www.qiagen.com ).
Technical Assistance
At QIAGEN we pride ourselves on the quality and availability of our technical support.
Our Technical Service Departments are staffed by experienced scientists with extensive
practical and theoretical expertise in sample and assay technologies and the use of
QIAGEN products. If you have any questions or experience any difficulties regarding
HiPerFect Transfection Reagent or QIAGEN products in general, please do not hesitate
to contact us.
QIAGEN customers are a major source of information regarding advanced or
specialized uses of our products. This information is helpful to other scientists as well as
to the researchers at QIAGEN. We therefore encourage you to contact us if you have
any suggestions about product performance or new applications and techniques.
For technical assistance and more information, please see our Technical Support
center at www.qiagen.com/Support or call one of the QIAGEN Technical Service
Departments or local distributors (see back cover or visit www.qiagen.com ).

Safety Information
When working with chemicals, always wear a suitable lab coat, disposable gloves,
and protective goggles. For more information, please consult the appropriate material
safety data sheets (MSDSs). These are available online in convenient and compact PDF
format at www.qiagen.com/Support/MSDS.aspx where you can find, view, and print
the MSDS for each QIAGEN kit and kit component.
24-hour emergency information
Emergency medical information in English, French, and German can be obtained
24 hours a day from:
Poison Information Center Mainz, Germany
Tel: +49-6131-19240

Introduction
The application of RNA interference (RNAi) to mammalian cells has revolutionized the
field of functional genomics. The ability to simply, effectively, and specifically
downregulate the expression of genes in mammalian cells holds enormous scientific,
commercial, and therapeutic potential. Efficient transfection of siRNA is critical for
effective gene silencing. HiPerFect Transfection Reagent has been developed for
efficient transfection of cells even when low siRNA concentrations are used. Highly
efficient transfection and silencing have been observed in some cases using as little as
100 pM siRNA. HiPerFect Transfection Reagent provides highly efficient siRNA
transfection over a range of siRNA concentrations from low to high, allowing
researchers to choose the siRNA concentration they wish to use. HiPerFect Reagent is
also highly suited to miRNA mimic/miRNA inhibitor transfection for miRNA research.
Principle and procedure

Off-target effects in RNAi experiments
Studies have indicated that transfection of siRNA can result in off-target effects, in which
siRNAs affect the expression of nonhomologous or partially homologous gene targets.
Off-target effects can include mRNA degradation, inhibition of translation, or induction
of an interferon response (1–4). The mechanisms of off-target effects are not fully
understood. They may be caused by siRNA targeting mRNA with close homology to the
target mRNA, by siRNAs functioning like miRNAs, or by a cellular response to siRNA
toxicity. In addition, some researchers have observed an siRNA-mediated interferon
response.
Research suggests that off-target effects, which may produce misleading results in RNAi
experiments, can be largely avoided by using low siRNA concentrations (5, 6). By
allowing highly efficient siRNA uptake and release within cells, HiPerFect Transfection
Reagent enables gene silencing using low siRNA concentrations without compromising
knockdown efficiency.
High knockdown and minimal risk of off-target effects in RNAi

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent enables highly efficient siRNA transfection, allowing gene
silencing using low siRNA concentrations without compromising knockdown efficiency.
In the data shown (Figure 1), efficient knockdown (>80%) is achieved with siRNA
concentrations in the range of 1–50 nM. Transfection of 1 nM siRNA resulted in 86%
knockdown and transfection of 5 nM siRNA increased the knockdown efficiency to 96%.
Depending on the purpose of the RNAi experiment, the optimal concentration of siRNA
to use may be 1 nM (minimal risk of off-target effects and efficient knockdown) or 5 nM
(higher knockdown efficiency). To achieve the highest possible knockdown levels, it
may be necessary to increase siRNA concentrations above the levels indicated in
the optimization schemes in Tables 1 (page 15), 5 (page 55), 6 (page 56), and 11
(page 60). The optimal siRNA concentration will also depend on siRNA potency, cell
type, and the target gene.

120
HiPerFect Transfection
Reagent
Relative expression of
100
Reagent L
CDC2 mRNA (%)
80
60
40
20
A
ng nM
N
A
A
A
A
A
l
tro
N
N
N
N
N
siR
n
ci 5
siR
siR
siR
siR
siR
co
en 2
nM
nM
nM
nM
nM
d
c te
1
5
.5
25
50
fe
sil
12
ns
on
tra
N
Un
Decreasing siRNA concentration
Increasing silencing effect

Figure 1. HiPerFect Reagent provides effective CDC2 knockdown even at low siRNA concentrations. HeLa S3
cells were transfected with a range of concentrations of siRNA targeted against CDC2 using HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent from QIAGEN or Reagent L from another supplier. Nonsilencing siRNA was also
transfected. After 48 hours, cells were harvested and total cellular RNA was purified using the RNeasy®
system, and reverse transcribed using Omniscript® Reverse Transcriptase. The resultant cDNA was used for
quantitative, real-time RT-PCR. Expression of CDC2 was normalized to expression of GAPDH. Values derived
from real-time RT-PCR of control, untransfected cells were set at 100% and the relative expression levels of
cells transfected with the experimental siRNA are shown.
miRNA research
microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous small RNA molecules with similar
characteristics to siRNAs. In recent years, it has been discovered that miRNAs play a
role in many diverse biological processes such as development, differentiation, and
apoptosis. Misregulation of miRNA expression is reported to be associated with several
cancers and other diseases.
The miRNA system is an endogenous mechanism of regulation of gene expression.
Mature miRNAs contribute to the regulation of endogenous genes, primarily by
translational repression. In addition, miRNAs can mediate mRNA destruction by rapid
deadenylation and/or decapping. Naturally occurring miRNA-binding sites are typically
found in the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of target mRNAs. Their partial complementarity
has made positive identification of true binding sites difficult and imprecise.

Transfection of synthetic miRNA mimics or miRNA inhibitors are techniques used to
elucidate the targets and roles of particular miRNAs. miRNA mimics are chemically
synthesized miRNAs which mimic naturally occurring miRNAs after transfection into the
cell. miRNA inhibitors are single-stranded, modified RNAs which specifically inhibit
miRNAs. Reduced gene expression after transfection of an miRNA mimic or increased
expression after transfection of an miRNA inhibitor provides evidence that the miRNA
is involved in regulation of that gene. Alternatively, the role of miRNAs in various
pathways can be studied by examination of a specific phenotype after miRNA mimic
or inhibitor transfection. Screening experiments can be performed to examine a
phenotype after transfection of large numbers of synthetic miRNA mimics or inhibitors.
HiPerFect Transfection Reagent is ideally suited to both low- and high-throughput
transfection of miRNA mimics or miRNA inhibitors.
In addition to transfection, QIAGEN provides synthetic miRNA mimics and miRNA
inhibitors, as well as innovative miRNeasy and miScript technologies for miRNA
purification and detection. For more details, background information, and application
data, visit www.qiagen.com/miRNA .
Protocols for various cell types and for special applications

This handbook contains protocols for adherent cells, suspension cells and
macrophages, and primary cells.
Protocols for adherent cells

For adherent cells, two protocols are provided for siRNA/miRNA transfection in 24-well
plates. In the Fast-Forward Protocol (page 20), cell seeding and transfection are carried
out on the same day. In the Traditional Protocol (page 26), cell seeding is performed
the day before transfection. The Fast-Forward Protocol is quicker and saves labor
compared to the Traditional Protocol (Figures 2 and 3).
For high-throughput experiments with adherent cells, protocols are provided for reverse
transfection in 96-well plates and 384-well plates (page 22 and page 24, respectively).
In these protocols, cells are seeded and transfected on the same day. siRNA/miRNA is
spotted into wells followed by the addition of HiPerFect Reagent. After complex
formation, cells are added to the wells. Reverse transfection is rapid and convenient,
and is frequently used for high-throughput experiments (Figures 2 and 3).

Fast-Forward Protocol
Traditional Protocol Reverse-Transfection Protocol
Cell seeding Cell seeding

Day 1
Complex formation
Transfection
Complex formation
Day 2
Transfection
Figure 2. The Fast-Forward and Reverse-Transfection Protocols save time and labor. In the Reverse-Transfection
and Fast-Forward Protocols, cell seeding, complex formation, and transfection are all performed on the same
day. In the Traditional Protocol, cell seeding is performed the day before transfection.
Fast-Forward Protocol Reverse-Transfection Protocol
Step 3. Cells
Step 2. Transfection complexes Step 2. HiPerFect Reagent
Step 1. Cells Step 1. Nucleic acid
Figure 3. The order of steps differs between the Fast-Forward and Reverse Transfection Protocols. In the Fast-
Forward Protocol, cells are added to plate wells first, followed by transfection complexes. In the Reverse-
Transfection Protocol, siRNA/miRNA is added to plate wells, followed by HiPerFect Reagent. After complex
formation in the wells, cells are added.

Protocols for suspension cells and macrophages
Protocols are also provided for siRNA/miRNA transfection of suspension cells
(page 28), macrophages (page 30), and differentiated macrophages (page 32) in
24-well plates.
Protocols for primary cells

Protocols are provided for siRNA/miRNA transfection of HUVEC cells, fibroblasts,
keratinocytes, epithelial cells, and smooth muscle cells in 24-well plates. In addition,
guideline protocols are provided for transfection of primary neurons and primary
hepatocytes in 96-well plates. These guidelines are standard parameters based on
experiments with similar cell types and further optimization is recommended to achieve
maximum transfection efficiency.
The primary-cell protocols provided have been mainly tested with human cells.
However, they are applicable to all cell types.
Protocols for special applications with adherent cells

For large-scale transfection, a protocol is provided for transfection in 100 mm dishes
on page 48. In this protocol, cell seeding and transfection are performed on the same
day.
A protocol for long-term gene silencing is included on page 50. This protocol is for the
study of phenotypic effects that require knockdown for periods longer than 3–4 days
before they can be observed. Gene knockdown using siRNA is transient and expression
usually increases again several days after transfection, especially when the cells are
subcultured. However, the long-term protocol allows gene knockdown for over two
weeks. The protocol uses HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to deliver siRNA/miRNA
every time the cells are diluted and replated. This is possible because transfection with
HiPerFect Reagent ensures extremely low levels of cytotoxicity, so cells remain viable
and healthy after multiple cycles of dilution and transfection.

Reagents to Be Supplied by User
When working with chemicals, always wear a suitable lab coat, disposable gloves,
and protective goggles. For more information, consult the appropriate material safety
data sheets (MSDSs), available from the product supplier.
I Culture medium
I siRNA of interest. We recommend functionally validated HP Validated siRNA
or HP GenomeWide siRNA, which is available for every human, mouse,
and rat gene. The GeneGlobe® Web portal allows convenient ordering
( www.qiagen.com/GeneGlobe ). QIAGEN also provides custom synthesis of
highly pure HPP Grade siRNA and siRNA Sets for high-throughput RNAi. For more
information, visit www.qiagen.com/siRNA .
I miRNA mimic or miRNA inhibitor of interest. For information about miRNA mimics
and miRNA inhibitors from QIAGEN, visit www.qiagen.com/miRNA .
I For transfection of differentiated macrophages (page 32): a differentiation-
inducing agent such as PMA
I For long-term transfection (page 50):
I Sterile PBS (1x PBS: 137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 4.3 mM Na2HPO4,
1.47 mM KH2PO4; adjust to a final pH of 7.4). Store at room temperature
(15–25°C)
I Trypsin/EDTA (Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution containing 0.05% (w/v)
porcine trypsin and 0.5 mM EDTA, or another appropriate trypsin or
enzymatic solution)

Important Notes
Calculating concentrations of siRNA
Approximate values for a double-stranded, 21 nt siRNA molecule:
I 20 µM siRNA is equivalent to approximately 0.25 µg/µl
I The molecular weight of a 21 nt siRNA is approximately 13–15 µg/nmol
To calculate the amount of siRNA to use for different formats, refer to Tables 3 and 4
for adherent cells (page 16), Table 8 for suspension cells (page 57), Table 9 for
macrophages (page 57), Table 10 for differentiated macrophages (page 58), or
Table 13 for primary cells (page 61).
Optimizing siRNA transfection

To achieve the best results in siRNA transfection of adherent cells, we recommend
optimizing the following parameters. For details on optimizing siRNA transfection in
suspension or macrophage cells, see Appendix A (page 55). For details on optimizing
siRNA transfection in primary cells, see Appendix B (page 59). For appropriate
amounts of miRNA mimic/miRNA inhibitor to transfect, refer to the manufacturer's
instructions.
Amount of siRNA
The amount of siRNA used is critical for efficient transfection and gene silencing. The
recommended starting concentration for transfection of siRNA in 24-well plates is 5 nM.
A pipetting scheme for optimizing siRNA transfection of adherent cells in 24-well plates
is shown in Table 1 (page 15).
Ratio of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to siRNA

The ratio of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to siRNA should be optimized for every new
cell type and siRNA combination used. As a starting point for optimization when using
24-well plates, we recommend 5 nM siRNA and 3 µl HiPerFect Transfection Reagent
for adherent cells. To optimize siRNA transfection in 24-well plates, prepare separate
transfection mixtures according to Table 1 (page 15).
Please note that Table 1 is intended only as a guideline for starting amounts of siRNA
and reagent. These amounts worked well as a starting point for transfection
optimization in the range of cell lines that have been tested using HiPerFect Transfection
Reagent. If necessary, it is also possible to further reduce the volume of HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent without significantly compromising performance.

Table 1. Pipetting scheme for optimizing transfection of adherent cells in 24-well plates*
Amount (conc.) of siRNA 75 ng 75 ng 75ng

(10 nM) (10 nM) (10 nM)
Volume of HiPerFect Reagent 1.5 µl 3 µl 4.5 µl
Amount (conc.) of siRNA 37.5 ng 37.5 ng 37.5 ng
(5 nM) (5 nM) (5 nM)
(1 nM) (1 nM) (1 nM)
* Amounts given are per well of a 24-well plate.

siRNA concentrations shown in brackets refer to the final siRNA concentration in each well.
For details on optimizing transfection in suspension or macrophage cells, see Appendix A (page 55) and in
primary cells, see Appendix B (page 59).
Cell density at transfection

The optimal cell confluency for transfection should be determined for every new cell type
to be transfected and kept constant in future experiments. This is achieved by counting
cells before seeding and, in the case of the Traditional Protocol (page 26), by keeping
the interval between seeding and transfection constant. This ensures that the cell density
is not too high and that the cells are in optimal physiological condition at transfection.
The recommended number of cells to seed for different formats is shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Recommended number of adherent cells to seed for different formats
Culture format Fast-Forward Protocol

Reverse-Transfection
Protocol Traditional Protocol
(day of transfection) (day before transfection)
384-well plate 4000–10,000 2000–5000
4
96-well plate 1–5 x 10 0.5–3 x 104
48-well plate 2–8 x 104 1–4 x 104
24-well plate 0.4–1.6 x 105 2–8 x 104
5
12-well plate 0.8–3 x 10 0.4–1.6 x 105
6-well plate 1.5–6 x 105 0.8–3 x 105
60 mm dish 0.3–1.2 x 106 1.5–6 x 105
100 mm dish 2–4 x 106 1–2 x 106
For recommended numbers of suspension or macrophage cells to seed, see Appendix A (page 55) and for
primary cells, see Appendix B (page 59).

Calculating siRNA and reagent for different formats
Table 3 and Table 4 give starting points for optimization of siRNA transfection of
adherent cells in different plate and dish formats for the Fast-Forward Protocol (page 20)
and the Traditional Protocol (page 26). Starting points for 96-well, 384-well, and
100 mm formats are given in the respective protocols (pages 22–25, page 48).
Table 3. Starting points for optimizing transfection of adherent cells in different formats
Volume of Final Volume of

medium siRNA volume of HiPerFect Final
Culture on cells amount diluted Reagent siRNA
format (µl) (ng)* siRNA (µl) (µl) conc. (nM)
48-well plate 250 19 50 1.5 5
24-well plate 500 37.5 100 3 5
12-well plate 1100 75 100 6 5
6-well plate 2300 150 100 12 5
60 mm dish 4000 256 100 20 5
* Table 4 shows the corresponding volumes of siRNA stock to use for each siRNA amount.
For starting points for optimizing transfection of suspension or macrophage cells, see Appendix A (page 55)
and for primary cells, see Appendix B (page 59).
Table 4. Volumes of siRNA stock for different siRNA amounts
Equivalent
volume of Equivalent Equivalent
siRNA 0.2 µM volume of volume of
Culture amount siRNA stock 2 µM siRNA 20 µM siRNA
format (ng) (µl)* stock (µl)* stock (µl)*
48-well plate 19 7.5 – –
24-well plate 37.5 – 1.5 –
12-well plate 75 – 3 –
6-well plate 150 – 6.0 –
60 mm dish 256 – – 1.0
* To make a 0.2 µM siRNA stock, dilute 10 µl of a 20 µM stock to a final volume of 1000 µl. To make a
2 µM siRNA stock, dilute 10 µl of a 20 µM stock to a final volume of 100 µl.

Transfection in multiwell plates — preparing a master mix
If you are performing transfection in multiwell plates, prepare a master mix of
transfection complexes or of transfection reagent and culture medium (depending on
the protocol) for distribution into plate wells.
I Calculate the required volumes of each component and the total volume before
you prepare the master mix.
I Prepare 10% more master mix than is required to allow for pipetting errors (i.e.,
for a 48-well plate, prepare enough master mix for 53 wells).
I Add and mix the components of the master mix according to the instructions in the
protocol.
I Use a repeat pipet to distribute the master mix.
Performing appropriate RNAi control experiments

It is important to perform suitable control experiments so that results can be correctly
interpreted. A full range of control siRNAs is available at www.qiagen.com/AllStars .
For information about appropriate miRNA control experiments, visit
www.qiagen.com/miRNA . We recommend the following control experiments.
Positive control siRNA

This is an siRNA that is known to provide high knockdown of its target gene. For
example, Mm/Hs_MAPK1 Control siRNA (cat. no. 1022564) efficiently knocks down
human and mouse MAPK1 and Rn_Mapk1 Control siRNA (cat. no. 1027277)
efficiently knocks down rat MAPK1. AllStars Hs Cell Death Control siRNA (cat. no.
1027298) provides high knockdown of ubiquitous human cell survival genes which
results in a high degree of cell death which is visible by light microscopy. These
siRNAs can be used as positive controls.
A positive control is used to establish that the experimental set up for transfection and
knockdown analysis is working optimally. An siRNA that knocks down a gene resulting
in the phenotypic effect under study may also be used as a positive control to ensure
that the phenotypic assay is working optimally. A positive control siRNA should be
transfected in every RNAi experiment.
Negative control siRNA

A negative control siRNA should be a nonsilencing siRNA with no homology to any
known mammalian gene, such as AllStars Negative Control siRNA (5 nmol) from
QIAGEN (cat. no. 1027280). AllStars Negative Control siRNA is the most thoroughly
tested and validated negative control available. It has been shown to provide minimal
nonspecific effects on gene expression and phenotype and is incorporated into RISC.
For more details and to view data, visit www.qiagen.com/AllStars .

Transfection of negative control siRNA is used to determine whether changes in
phenotype or gene expression are nonspecific. A negative control siRNA should be
transfected in every RNAi experiment.
Transfection control siRNA

This control is used to measure the transfection efficiency. Transfection efficiency can be
measured in several ways, for example by fluorescence microscopy after transfection
of a fluorescently labeled siRNA or by observation of the level of cell death after
transfection of siRNA that targets essential cell survival genes, such as AllStars Hs Cell
Death Control siRNA. siRNA transfection efficiency should be as high as possible. This
control should be performed for optimization, for example, when establishing RNAi
in a new cell line.
Mock transfection control

Mock-transfected cells go through the transfection process without addition of siRNA
(i.e., cells are treated with transfection reagent only). This control is used to determine
any nonspecific effects that may be caused by the transfection reagent or process.
Untransfected cells control

Gene expression analysis should be carried out on cells that have not been treated to
allow measurement of the normal, basal level of gene expression. Results from untreated
cells can be used for comparison with results from all other samples. Untreated cells
should be analyzed in every RNAi experiment.
Additional siRNAs for phenotype confirmation

A phenotypic effect caused by knockdown of a gene must be confirmed using at least
one additional siRNA targeted against a different area of the mRNA.
Monitoring gene silencing at the mRNA or protein level

Gene silencing can be monitored at either the mRNA or the protein level. Protein
analysis can be performed using western blotting, immunofluorescence, or FACS®
analysis. More information about protein analysis and a protocol for western blotting
can be found at www.qiagen.com/literature/BenchGuide . The AllPrep RNA/Protein
Kit (cat. no. 80404) allows simultaneous purification of RNA and protein from the same
sample for streamlined downstream analysis after knockdown. Protein analysis is the
most comprehensive way of showing that a gene has been downregulated. However,
it may not always be possible to perform protein analysis (e.g., if antibodies for the
protein of interest are not available for western blotting).

Silencing is usually monitored at the mRNA level by real-time RT-PCR, microarray
analysis, or northern blotting. Information about working with RNA and a northern
blotting protocol are available at www.qiagen.com/literature/BenchGuide . Quantitative,
real-time RT-PCR is an easy and routinely used method to monitor gene silencing at the
mRNA level. QuantiTect® Primer Assays are bioinformatically validated primer sets that
are available for every human, mouse, rat, dog, drosophila, chicken, and arabidopsis
gene. QuantiTect Primer Assays are used in combination with QuantiTect or
QuantiFast® SYBR® Green Kits for sensitive and specific one-step or two-step real-time
RT-PCR using SYBR Green detection. Expression data should be compared with levels
of a housekeeping gene, such as GAPDH, to normalize for variable amounts of RNA
in different samples.

Protocol: Fast-Forward Transfection of Adherent Cells
with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates
Fast-Forward
This protocol is provided as a starting point for optimization of siRNA/miRNA

Protocol
transfection of adherent cells in a single well of a 24-well plate using HiPerFect

Transfection Reagent. This protocol can also be used as a starting point for optimizing
transfection in other formats (e.g., 48-well plate, 12-well plate, 6-well plate, and 60 mm
dish formats) using the siRNA and reagent amounts listed in Table 3 on page 16.
In this protocol, cell plating and transfection are performed on the same day. For a few
sensitive cell types, it may be necessary to use the Traditional Protocol, where cells are
plated the day before transfection (page 26).
Note: We recommend when using 24-well plates that transfection is performed in the
order described in this Fast-Forward Protocol, with cells seeded in wells first followed
by addition of siRNA/miRNA–reagent complexes. This ensures optimal mixing of cells
and complexes. However, transfection can be performed using a Reverse-Transfection
Protocol, with complexes added to wells and cells added on top of complexes, if
desired. To perform a Reverse-Transfection Protocol, simply change the order in which
cells and complexes are added to the plate (steps 1–5).
Important points before starting

I Cells should be in optimal physiological condition at the time of transfection. The
optimal amount of cells seeded depends on the cell type and time of analysis.
I If siRNA has been ordered from QIAGEN, it is delivered lyophilized and must be
resuspended prior to transfection.To resuspend, follow the instructions provided
with the siRNA.
I Nucleic acid amounts in the protocol refer to siRNA. For appropriate amounts
of miRNA mimic/miRNA inhibitor to transfect, refer to the manufacturer's
instructions. Where possible, dilute miRNA mimic/miRNA inhibitor in the same
volume as recommended for siRNA in the protocol.
Procedure
1. Shortly before transfection, seed 0.4–1.6 x 105 cells per well of a 24-well plate in
0.5 ml of an appropriate culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
Cells may alternatively be seeded after step 3 of this protocol.
2. For the short time until transfection, incubate the cells under normal growth
conditions (typically 37°C and 5% CO2).
3. Dilute 37.5 ng siRNA in 100 µl culture medium without serum (this will give a final
siRNA concentration of 5 nM after adding complexes to cells in step 5). Add 3 µl
of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the diluted siRNA and mix by vortexing.

IMPORTANT: The amount of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent and siRNA required
for optimal performance may vary, depending on the cell line and gene target.
For details on optimization of the siRNA to HiPerFect Transfection Reagent ratio,
Fast-Forward
see page 14.
Protocol
4. Incubate the samples for 5–10 min at room temperature (15–25°C) to allow the
formation of transfection complexes.
5. Add the complexes drop-wise onto the cells. Gently swirl the plate to ensure
uniform distribution of the transfection complexes.
6. Incubate the cells with the transfection complexes under their normal growth
conditions and monitor gene silencing after an appropriate time (e.g., 6–72 h after
transfection, depending on experimental setup). Change the medium as required.
Note: The optimal incubation time for gene silencing analysis depends on the cell
type, the gene targeted, and the method of analysis. This can be determined by
performing a time-course experiment. When using fluorescently labeled siRNA,
microscopic analysis should be performed 4–24 h after transfection.

Protocol: Reverse Transfection of Adherent Cells with
siRNA/miRNA in 96-Well Plates
Transfection Reagent. Starting points for optimizing transfection in other formats are
listed in Table 3 on page 16. In this protocol, cell plating and transfection are performed
on the same day.
96-Well Plates
Note: Transfection in 96-well plates can also be performed using a Fast-Forward

Protocol, if desired. In this Reverse-Transfection Protocol, complex formation takes place
in the plate wells first and then cells are added on top of the complexes. In the Fast-
Forward Protocol, cells are added to plate wells followed by complexes (see Figure 3,
page 11). To perform a Fast-Forward Protocol, simply change the order in which cells
and complexes are added to the plate (steps 1–4). However, we recommend using this
Reverse-Transfection Protocol when working with 96-well plates because it is quicker,
has fewer pipetting steps, and uses fewer materials (the Fast-Forward Protocol requires
two plates, one for complex formation and one for adding complexes on top of cells;
the Reverse-Transfection Protocol requires only one plate).

with the siRNA.
Procedure
1. Spot 12.5 ng siRNA in 1–3 µl of siRNA Suspension Buffer/RNase-free water into
a single well of a 96-well plate (this will give a final siRNA concentration of 5 nM
after addition of cells to complexes in step 4).
Note: After this step, siRNA may be stored at –20°C for long time periods. siRNA
may be stored in solution or may be dried in the plate at room temperature
(15–25°C) before storage.
Note: If preferred, siRNA can be spotted in 25 µl of siRNA Suspension
Buffer/RNase-free water into each well. In this case, 150 µl culture medium
(containing 1–5 x 104 cells) should be added in step 4.

2. Add 0.75 µl of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to 24.25 µl of culture medium
without serum. Add the diluted HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the prespotted
siRNA.
Note: To ensure accurate pipetting, diluted HiPerFect Reagent should be prepared
in a larger volume for use in multiple wells (see “Transfection in multiwell plates —
preparing a master mix“ on page 17). Then add 25 µl of the dilution to a single
well.
96-Well Plates
see page 14.
3. Incubate for 5–10 min at room temperature (15–25°C) to allow formation of
transfection complexes.
4. Seed 1–5 x 104 cells in 175 µl of an appropriate culture medium (containing serum
and antibiotics) into the well, on top of the siRNA–HiPerFect Reagent transfection
complexes.
Note: The optimal incubation time for gene silencing analysis depends on cell type,
the gene targeted, and the method of analysis. This can be determined by
performing a time-course experiment.

Protocol: Reverse Transfection of Adherent Cells with
Transfection Reagent. Starting points for optimizing transfection in other formats are
listed in Table 3 on page 16. In this protocol, cell plating and transfection are performed
on the same day.

amount of cells seeded depends on the cell type and time of analysis.
384-Well Plates

with the siRNA.
Procedure
1. Spot 3.125 ng siRNA in 1–3 µl of siRNA Suspension Buffer/RNase-free water into
a single well of a 384-well plate (this will give a final siRNA concentration of 5 nM
after addition of cells to complexes in step 4).
Note: After this step, siRNA may be stored at –20°C for long time periods. siRNA
may be stored in solution or may be dried in the plate at room temperature
(15–25°C) before storage.
2. Add 0.5 µl of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to 9.5 µl of culture medium without
serum. Add the diluted HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the prespotted siRNA.
Note: To ensure accurate pipetting, diluted HiPerFect Reagent should be prepared
in a larger volume for use in multiple wells (see “Transfection in multiwell plates —
preparing a master mix“ on page 17).
see page 14.

4. Seed 4000–10,000 cells in 40 µl of an appropriate culture medium (containing
serum and antibiotics) into the well, on top of the siRNA–HiPerFect Reagent
Note: The optimal incubation time for gene silencing analysis depends on cell type,
the gene targeted, and the method of analysis. This can be determined by
384-Well Plates

Protocol: Transfection of Adherent Cells with
siRNA/miRNA (Traditional Protocol)
Transfection Reagent if seeding cells the day before transfection is preferred. Starting
points for optimizing transfection in other formats are listed in Table 3 on page 16. For
some cell types, such as HepG2, the Fast-Forward Protocol (page 20) may give higher
gene silencing effects at very low siRNA concentrations compared to this protocol.

I Cells should be in optimal physiological condition on the day of transfection. The
optimal confluency for transfection of adherent cells using this protocol is 50–80%.
The amount of cells seeded depends on the cell type and time of analysis.
with the siRNA.
I
Traditional Protocol
Nucleic acid amounts in the protocol refer to siRNA. For appropriate amounts
Procedure
1. The day before transfection, seed 2–8 x 104 cells per well of a 24-well plate in
0.5 ml of an appropriate culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
2. Incubate the cells under normal growth conditions (typically 37°C and 5% CO2).
3. On the day of transfection, dilute 37.5 ng siRNA in 100 µl culture medium without
serum (this will give a final siRNA concentration of 5 nM after adding complexes
to cells in step 5). Add 3 µl of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the diluted siRNA
and mix by vortexing.
see page 14.

performing a time-course experiment. When using fluorescently labeled siRNA,
microscopic analysis should be performed 4–24 h after transfection.
Traditional Protocol

Protocol: Transfection of Suspension Cell Lines, Including
Jurkat and K562, with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates
transfection of suspension cells in a single well of a 24-well plate using HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent. Details about optimization of transfection of suspension cells and
starting points for transfection in different formats are provided in Appendix A
(page 55).
Cultivation of suspension cells

Optimal transfection efficiency is achieved when suspension cells are cultivated in a
spinner flask for at least 24 hours prior to transfection. This ensures optimal gas
exchange and that the cells are in logarithmic growth phase. The day before
transfection, an aliquot of cells is mixed with trypan blue (which stains dead cells) and
living (unstained) cells are counted using a counting chamber. An appropriate volume
of cells is centrifuged and the cell pellet is resuspended in fresh culture medium and
transferred to a spinner flask. The cell density in the spinner flask should be 3 x 105 cells
per ml (protocol step 1).
Spinner flasks are available in various sizes (e.g., 50 ml, 250 ml, and 1000 ml).
Pendulums inside the flask stir the cell culture. The volume of medium in the flask should
be approximately one third of the flask size (e.g., a 250 ml spinner flask should contain
~85 ml cell suspension). The cap of the flask should be loose to allow air to enter. The
cell suspension should be constantly stirred at ~60 stirs per minute.
Suspension Cells
The next day, cell number is determined. For most cell types, the cell number should
have doubled. The appropriate volume of cells is then harvested for transfection
(protocol step 3). If cells grow significantly slower than expected, it may indicate that
cells are not healthy. In this case, repeat the overnight incubation with fresh cells and
medium.

I Cells should be in optimal physiological condition on the day of transfection. For
recommended cell numbers to seed, see Table 7, page 56. The optimal amount of
cells to seed depends on the cell line and the time of analysis.
with the siRNA.

Procedure
1. The day before transfection, dilute cells at a density of 3 x 105 per ml in an appro-
priate culture medium containing serum and antibiotics in a spinner flask.
3. On the day of transfection, plate 2 x 105 cells per well of a 24-well plate in 100 µl
culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
4. Dilute 750 ng siRNA in 100 µl culture medium without serum (this will give a final
siRNA concentration of 100 nM after adding medium in step 8). Add 6 µl HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent to the diluted siRNA and mix by vortexing.
IMPORTANT: When performing transfections in 96-well plates, transfection
efficiency can be significantly enhanced by thoroughly mixing the cells and
transfection complexes by pipetting up and down 4–6 times.
conditions for 6 h.
8. Add 400 µl culture medium containing serum and antibiotics to the cells and
incubate until analysis of gene silencing (e.g., 6–72 h after transfection, depending
Suspension Cells
on the experimental setup). Add fresh medium as required.

Protocol: Transfection of Macrophage Cell Lines,
Including J774.A1 and RAW 264.7,
transfection of macrophage cells in a single well of a 24-well plate using HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent. Details about optimization of transfection of macrophage cells
and starting points for transfection in different formats are provided in Appendix A
(page 55).

I Cells should be in optimal physiological condition at the time of transfection. For
cells to seed depends on the cell line and the time of analysis.
with the siRNA.
Procedure
1. Shortly before transfection, seed 0.4–2 x 105 cells per well of a 24-well plate in
100 µl of an appropriate culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
Macrophages
conditions for 6 h.

on the experimental setup). Change the medium as required.
Macrophages

Protocol: Transfection of Differentiated Macrophage
Cell Lines, Including THP-1, with siRNA/miRNA
in 24-Well Plates
Macrophages
Differentiated

transfection of differentiated macrophages in a single well of a 24-well plate using
HiPerFect Transfection Reagent. Details about optimization of transfection of
differentiated macrophages and starting points for transfection in different formats are
provided in Appendix A (page 55).

I Cells should be in optimal physiological condition on the day of transfection. For
cells to seed depends on the cell line and the time point of analysis.
with the siRNA.
Procedure
1. 24 h before transfection, seed 2 x 104 cells per well of a 24-well plate in 0.5 ml of
an appropriate culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
2. Add the appropriate amount of differentiation-inducing agent to the cells and
incubate overnight under normal growth conditions (typically 37°C and 5% CO2).
Note: For differentiation of THP-1 cells, 100 ng/ml PMA was used.
3. Shortly before transfection, remove the culture medium from the cells and add
100 µl fresh culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
conditions.

Macrophages
Differentiated
conditions for 6 h.
on the experimental setup). Change the medium as required.

Protocol: Transfection of HUVEC Cells with
transfection of HUVEC and other endothelial cells in a single well of a 24-well plate
using HiPerFect Transfection Reagent. Details about optimization of transfection of
primary cells and starting points for transfection in different formats are provided in
Appendix B (page 59).
Cells should be at a low passage number (do not exceed a passage number of 4).
HUVEC

I Cells should be in optimal physiological condition on the day of transfection.
resuspended prior to transfection. To resuspend, follow the instructions provided
with the siRNA.
of miRNA mimic/miRNA inhibitor to transfect, refer to the manufacturer’s
Procedure
1. On the day of transfection, seed 6 x 104 cells per well of a 24-well plate in 0.1 ml
of an appropriate culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
Cells may also be seeded after step 3 of this protocol.
2. Incubate cells under normal growth conditions (typically 37°C and 5% CO2).
siRNA concentration of 10 nM). Mix by vortexing. Add 3 µl of HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent to the diluted siRNA. Mix by pipetting up and down 5 times,
or by vortexing for 10 s.
IMPORTANT: The amount of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent required for optimal
performance may vary, depending on the exact cell type used. For specific cell
types and targets, optimal conditions may be different from those described here.
The amount of siRNA required for optimal results may also vary. For many cell
types it may be possible to reduce the amount of siRNA to 7.5 ng (1 nM). For
some cell types it may be necessary to increase the amount of siRNA up to
225 ng (25 nM).
4. Incubate the samples for 5–10 min at room temperature (15–25°C) to allow

6. Incubate cells with the transfection complexes under their normal growth
conditions.
7. After 3 h, add 400 µl culture medium.
conditions and monitor gene silencing after an appropriate time (e.g., 6-72 h after
transfection, depending on experimental setup).
Note: The optimal incubation time for gene silencing analysis depends on cell
HUVEC
performing a time course experiment.

Protocol: Transfection of Fibroblasts with siRNA/miRNA
in 24-Well Plates
transfection of fibroblasts in a single well of a 24-well plate using HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent. In this protocol, cell plating and transfection are performed
on the same day. Details about optimization of transfection of primary cells and starting
points for transfection in different formats are provided in Appendix B (page 59).

Fibroblasts
with the siRNA.

Procedure
siRNA concentration of 10 nM). Mix by vortexing. Add 3 µl of HiPerFect
performance may vary, depending on the exact cell type used. For specific
cell types and targets, optimal conditions may be different from those described
here.
The amount of siRNA required for optimal results may also vary. For many
cell types it may be possible to reduce the amount of siRNA to 7.5 ng (1 nM).
For some cell types it may be necessary to increase the amount of siRNA up to
225 ng (25 nM).

conditions and monitor gene silencing after an appropriate time (e.g., 6–72 h
after transfection, depending on experimental setup). Change the medium as
required.
Fibroblasts

Protocol: Transfection of Keratinocytes with
transfection of keratinocytes in a single well of a 24-well plate using HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent. In this protocol, cell plating and transfection are performed
on the same day. Details about optimization of transfection of primary cells and starting

I If siRNA has been ordered from QIAGEN, it is delivered lyophilized and must
be resuspended prior to transfection. To resuspend, follow the instructions
provided with the siRNA.
Keratinocytes
Procedure
3. Dilute 37.5 ng siRNA in 100 µl culture medium without serum (this will give a
final siRNA concentration of 5 nM). Mix by vortexing. Add 3 µl of HiPerFect
225 ng (25 nM).

required.
Keratinocytes

Protocol: Transfection of Epithelial Cells with
transfection of epithelial cells in a single well of a 24-well plate using HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent. In this protocol, cell plating and transfection are performed on
the same day. Details about optimization of transfection of primary cells and starting

with the siRNA.
Procedure
Epithelial Cells

3. Dilute 75 ng siRNA in 100 µl culture medium without serum (this will give a
The amount of siRNA required for optimal results may also vary. For many cell
types it may be possible to reduce the amount of siRNA to 7.5 ng (1 nM). For
some cell types it may be necessary to increase the amount of siRNA up to
225 ng (25 nM).

conditions.
after transfection, depending on experimental setup).
Epithelial Cells

Protocol: Transfection of Smooth Muscle Cells with
transfection of smooth muscle cells in a single well of a 24-well plate using HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent. In this protocol, cell plating and transfection are performed on
the same day. Details about optimization of transfection of primary cells and starting

with the siRNA.
Procedure
3. Dilute 75 ng siRNA in 100 µl culture medium without serum (this will give a
Smooth Muscle Cells
225 ng (25 nM).

conditions.
conditions and monitor gene silencing after an appropriate time (e.g., 6-72 h
after transfection, depending on experimental setup).
Smooth Muscle Cells

Guidelines for Transfection of Primary Neurons with
Primary Neurons
This protocol is a guideline for siRNA/miRNA transfection of primary neurons in a

single well of a 96-well plate using HiPerFect Transfection Reagent. This guideline is
based on experiments with similar cell types and may not be effective under the
laboratory conditions used. The protocol will require further optimization to achieve
maximum transfection efficiency. Details about optimization of transfection of primary
cells are provided in Appendix B (page 59).

I If siRNA has been ordered from QIAGEN, it is delivered lyophilized and must
be resuspended prior to transfection. To resuspend, follow the instructions
provided with the siRNA.
Procedure
1. Five days before transfection, seed 1.6 x 105 cells per well of a 96-well plate in
0.2 ml of an appropriate culture medium.
3. On the day of transfection, dilute 125 ng siRNA in 25 µl culture medium without
serum (this will give a final siRNA concentration of 50 nM). Mix by vortexing.
4. Add 0.5 µl of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to 24.5 µl of culture medium without
serum. Add the diluted HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the diluted siRNA. Mix
by pipetting up and down 5 times, or by vortexing for 10 s.
for optimal performance may vary. Depending on the exact cell type and gene
target, it may be necessary to increase the amount of HiPerFect Reagent to 1 µl or
1.5 µl per well.
5. Incubate for 5–10 min at room temperature (15–25°C) to allow the formation of
6. Remove medium from cells and add 0.15 ml fresh medium per well.

Primary Neurons
required.

Guidelines for Transfection of Primary Hepatocytes
This protocol is a guideline for siRNA/miRNA transfection of primary hepatocytes in a
single well of a 96-well plate using HiPerFect Transfection Reagent. This guideline is
based on experiments with similar cell types and may not be effective under the
laboratory conditions used. The protocol will require further optimization to achieve
Primary Hepatocytes
maximum transfection efficiency. Details about optimization of transfection of primary

cells are provided in Appendix B (page 59).

with the siRNA.
Procedure
1. The day before transfection, seed 8 x 104 cells per well of a 96-well plate in
0.15 ml of an appropriate culture medium.
Note: The optimal cell density and time point of plating depends on the
experimental requirements and the source of the cells. The number of cells to be
plated may need to be adjusted.
3. On the day of transfection, dilute 125 ng siRNA in 25 µl culture medium without
serum (this will give a final siRNA concentration of 50 nM). Mix by vortexing.
4. Add 0.75 µl of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to 24.25 µl of culture medium
without serum. Add the diluted HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the diluted
siRNA. Mix by pipetting up and down 5 times or by vortexing for 10 s.
for optimal performance may vary. Depending on the exact cell type and gene
target, it may be necessary to increase the amount of HiPerFect Reagent to 1 µl or
1.5 µl per well.

required.
Primary Hepatocytes

Protocol: Large-Scale Transfection of Adherent Cells
with siRNA/miRNA in 100 mm Dishes
transfection of adherent cells in a 100 mm dish using HiPerFect Transfection Reagent.
Starting points for optimizing transfection in other formats are listed in Table 3 on
page 16. In this protocol, cell plating and transfection are performed on the same day.
For a few sensitive cell types, it may be necessary to plate cells the day before
transfection (as in the Traditional Protocol on page 26).

100 mm Dishes
with the siRNA.
Procedure
1. Shortly before transfection, seed 2–4 x 106 cells per 100 mm dish in 7 ml of an
appropriate culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
3. Dilute 600 ng siRNA in 1 ml culture medium without serum (this will give a final
siRNA concentration of 5 nM after adding complexes to cells in step 5). Add 40 µl
of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the diluted siRNA and mix by vortexing.
see page 14.
5. Add the complexes drop-wise onto the cells. Gently swirl the dish to ensure uniform
distribution of the transfection complexes.

100 mm Dishes

Protocol: Long-Term Transfection of Adherent Cells
with siRNA/miRNA
This protocol is for siRNA/miRNA transfection of adherent cells in a single well of a
24-well plate. It is provided as a starting point for optimization of siRNA/miRNA
transfection in mammalian cells using HiPerFect Transfection Reagent.

optimal confluency for transfection of adherent cells using this protocol is 50–80%.
I This protocol requires sterile PBS and Trypsin/EDTA (not supplied). For details on
preparation of PBS and Trypsin/EDTA, see “Reagents to Be Supplied by User“,
page 13.
with the siRNA.
Long-Term

Procedure
1. The day before the first transfection, seed 2–8 x 104 cells per well of a 24-well
plate in 0.5 ml of an appropriate culture medium containing serum and antibiotics.
3. On the day of transfection, dilute 37.5 ng siRNA in 100 µl culture medium without
serum (this will give a final siRNA concentration of 5 nM after adding complexes
to cells in step 5). Add 3 µl of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the diluted siRNA
and mix by vortexing.
see page 14.

conditions. After 6–24 h, change the medium.
Note: Depending on the cell type, a medium change may not be necessary.
Instead it may be possible to leave the complexes on the cells until they reach con-
fluency.
7. When the cells become confluent, they are split and retransfected as follows (steps
7–13). Remove the medium and wash the cells with 500 µl PBS.
8. Add 100 µl Trypsin/EDTA and incubate until the cells detach. Observe the cells
closely to avoid extended incubation with trypsin.
9. Add 900 µl medium containing serum and antibiotics to stop the trypsination.
10. Prepare transfection complexes as described in steps 3 and 4.
11. Dilute an aliquot of the trypsinated cells in a final volume of 500 µl medium
containing serum and antibiotics and transfer them to a fresh well of a 24-well
plate.
Note: The dilution factor is cell-type–specific and usually reflects the doubling time
of the cell type.
Long-Term
conditions. After 6–24 h, change the medium.
Note: Depending on the cell type, a medium change may not be necessary.
Instead it may be possible to leave the complexes on the cells until they reach
confluency or until analysis.
14. When the cells become confluent and need to be split, repeat the procedure from
step 7 onward.
15. Monitor gene silencing after an appropriate time.
Note: The optimal number of splitting cycles and transfections before gene
silencing analysis depends on the gene targeted and the phenotype under study.
This can be determined by performing a time-course experiment. Using this
procedure, efficient knockdown without cytotoxicity has been observed up to
2 weeks after the initial transfection.

Troubleshooting Guide
This troubleshooting guide may be helpful in solving any problems that may arise. The
scientists in QIAGEN Technical Services are always happy to answer any questions you
may have about the information and protocols in this handbook or sample and assay
technologies (for contact information, see back cover or visit www.qiagen.com ).
Comments and suggestions
Low transfection efficiency

a) Suboptimal HiPerFect Although fixed volumes of HiPerFect
Transfection Transfection Reagent usually work very well
Reagent:siRNA ratio with a range of siRNA concentrations, it
could occur that the overall charge of the
complexes is negative, neutral, or strongly
positive, which can lead to inefficient
adsorption to the cell surface. For optimal
adsorption, complexes should be weakly
positive. Optimize the HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent to siRNA ratio using
Tables 1 (page 15), 5 (page 55), 6
(page 56), or 11 (page 60), or perform
systematic titrations of HiPerFect Transfection
Reagent.
b) Suboptimal cell density If cell density at the time of adding HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent–siRNA complexes is
not at an optimal level, cells may not be in
the optimal growth phase for transfection.
This can lead to insufficient uptake of
complexes into the cells or inefficient
processing of the siRNA. For adherent cells,
the optimal confluency for transfection of
siRNA is 50–80% if using the Traditional
Protocol (page 26).
c) Poor siRNA quality siRNA should be of high quality, as
impurities can reduce transfection efficiency.
We recommend HP GenomeWide siRNA
and HP Validated siRNA for efficient gene
silencing ( www.qiagen.com/GeneGlobe ).

Excessive cell death

a) Concentration of HiPerFect Decrease the amount of HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent–siRNA Transfection Reagent–siRNA complexes
complexes is too high added to the cells.
b) Cells are stressed Avoid stressing cells with temperature shifts
and long periods without medium during
washing steps. It is particularly important for
transfection of siRNA that the cells are in
good condition. Therefore, ensure that cell
density is not too low at transfection. For
adherent cells, the optimal confluency for
transfection is 50–80% if using the
Traditional Protocol (page 26).
c) Poor siRNA quality siRNA should be of high quality, as
impurities can reduce transfection efficiency.
We recommend HP GenomeWide siRNA
and HP Validated siRNA for efficient gene
d) Key gene is silenced If the gene targeted is important for the
survival of the cell, silencing this gene may
lead to cell death.
Variable transfection efficiencies in replicate experiments
a) Inconsistent cell confluencies in Count cells before seeding to ensure that the
replicate experiments same number of cells is seeded for each
experiment. Keep the incubation time
between seeding and complex addition
consistent between experiments.
b) Possible mycoplasma Mycoplasma contamination influences
contamination transfection efficiency. Variations in the
growth behavior of mycoplasma-infected
cells will lead to different transfection
efficiencies between replicate experiments.

c) Cells have been passaged too Cells that have been passaged a large
many times number of times tend to change their growth
behavior and morphology, and are less sus-
ceptible to transfection. When cells with
high passage numbers are used for replicate
experiments, decreased transfection
efficiencies may be observed in later
experiments. We recommend using cells
with a low passage number (<50 splitting
cycles).
d) Concentration of siRNA is too low Increase siRNA concentration used in
transfection.
No or very small gene silencing effect
a) Design of siRNA suboptimal The design of an siRNA can have a large
effect on its gene silencing efficiency. We
recommend HP GenomeWide siRNA and
HP Validated siRNA for efficient gene
b) Incubation time after The gene silencing effect observed at the
transfection too short protein level is dependent on the expression
level of the protein and its rate of turnover
within the cell. Perform a time-course
experiment to determine the optimal time
point for analysis.
c) Problems with experimental design RNAi effects may not be seen for some
genes targeted with certain siRNAs in some
cell types. If possible, repeat experiments
using a different cell type and/or siRNA.
Where possible, include both positive and
negative controls in your experiments.
QIAGEN offers a range of control siRNAs at
www.qiagen.com/AllStars .
d) Concentration of siRNA is too low Increase siRNA concentration used in
transfection.

Appendix A: Optimizing siRNA Transfection of
Suspension and Macrophage Cells
To achieve the best results in siRNA transfection, we recommend optimizing the
following parameters. For appropriate amounts of miRNA mimic/miRNA inhibitor to
transfect, refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
Amount of siRNA
recommended starting concentration for transfection of siRNA in 24-well plates is
100 nM for suspension cells or 50 nM for macrophages and differentiated
macrophages. Pipetting schemes for optimizing siRNA transfection in 24-well plates are
shown in Tables 5 and 6 (below).

cell type and siRNA combination used. As a starting point for optimization when using
24-well plates, we recommend 100 nM siRNA and 6 µl HiPerFect Transfection Reagent
for suspension cells or 50 nM siRNA and 6 µl HiPerFect Transfection Reagent for
macrophages and differentiated macrophages. To optimize siRNA transfection in 24-
well plates, prepare separate transfection mixtures according to Tables 5 and 6 (below).
Please note that Tables 5 and 6 are intended only as a guideline for starting amounts
of siRNA and reagent. These amounts worked well as a starting point for transfection
optimization in the range of cell lines that have been tested using HiPerFect Transfection
Reagent. If necessary, it is also possible to further reduce the volume of HiPerFect
Transfection Reagent without significantly compromising performance.
Table 5. Pipetting scheme for optimizing transfection of suspension cells in 24-well

plates*
Amount (final conc.) of siRNA 1.5 µg 1.5 µg 1.5 µg

(200 nM) (200 nM) (200 nM)
Volume of HiPerFect Reagent 3 µl 6 µl 9 µl
Amount (final conc.) of siRNA 750 ng 750 ng 750 ng
(100 nM) (100 nM) (100 nM)
(50 nM) (50 nM) (50 nM)

Table 6. Pipetting scheme for optimizing transfection of macrophages and differentiated
macrophages in 24-well plates*

(100 nM) (100 nM) (100 nM)
(50 nM) (50 nM) (50 nM)
Amount (final conc.) of siRNA 187.5 ng 187.5 ng 187.5 ng
(25 nM) (25 nM) (25 nM)

cells before seeding. This ensures that the cell density is not too high and that the cells
are in optimal physiological condition at transfection. The recommended number of
cells to seed for different formats is shown in Table 7.
Table 7. Recommended number of suspension or macrophage cells to seed for different

formats
Culture format Suggested number of suspension cells to seed

96-well plate 3–6 x 104
Suggested number of macrophage cells to seed
24-well plate 0.4–2 x 105
Suggested number of differentiated macrophage cells to seed

Tables 8–10 give starting points for optimization of siRNA transfection in different
plate and dish formats using suspension cells (Table 8), macrophages (Table 9), or
differentiated macrophages (Table 10).
Table 8. Starting points for optimizing transfection of suspension cells in different

formats
Final Volume Volume of

Volume volume of of Final medium
of cells siRNA diluted HiPerFect siRNA added
Culture plated amount siRNA Reagent conc. after 6 h
format (µl) (ng) (µl) (µl) (nM) (µl)
Protocol step 3 4 4 4 6 8
96-well plate 30 250 30 1 100 140
24-well plate 100 750 100 6 100 400
Table 9. Starting points for optimizing transfection of macrophage cells in different

formats

Volume volume of of Final medium
of cells siRNA diluted HiPerFect siRNA added
Culture plated amount siRNA Reagent conc. after 6 h
96-well plate 30 125 30 1 50 140
24-well plate 100 375 100 6 50 400

Table 10. Starting points for optimizing transfection of differentiated macrophage cells
in different formats

Volume of volume of of Final medium
medium siRNA diluted HiPerFect siRNA added
Culture on cells amount siRNA Reagent conc. after 6 h
96-well plate 30 125 30 1 50 140
24-well plate 100 375 100 6 50 400

Appendix B: Recommendations for Primary Cells
Recommendations for primary cell culture
Primary cells should always be handled with care and any unnecessary manipulation
of the cells should be avoided. Some recommendations for handling primary cells are
detailed below.
I Culture medium
Always use prewarmed medium and avoid long incubation times at room
temperature. Some primary-cell–specific media contain unstable components.
For this reason, avoid using medium which was prepared over four weeks ago.
I Passage number
Primary cells should be passaged for only a limited time before transfection. For
fibroblasts, epithelial cells, keratinocytes, and smooth muscle cells, the passage
number should not exceed 10 to 12. For endothelial cells, especially HUVEC, the
passage number should not exceed 4 or at most 5.
I Splitting cycles
When splitting primary cells, avoid long incubation times with trypsin (epithelial
cells are an exception and usually require prolonged incubation times with trypsin
at 37°C). For HUVEC and other endothelial cells, we recommend replacing trypsin
with a gentler enzyme such as accutase. Stop trypsin incuabtion shortly after
detachment of the cells by adding a neutralizing agent (e.g., medium containing
significant amounts of serum). Cells should be harvested and centrifuged at low
speed for 5 min and then resuspended in the appropriate medium.
As trypsinization causes stress to primary cells, cells should not be trypsinized on
2 consecutive days (e.g., do not split cells the day before seeding the cells).
I Pipettes
Narrow pipettes should be avoided, especially for large cells like fibroblasts or
smooth muscle cells, as they can lead to cell damage.
I Cell confluency
The ideal cell confluency for gentle transfection varies depending on the cell type
and cultivation method. The seeding numbers given in the protocols may have to
be optimized if cytotoxicity is observed.
Optimizing siRNA transfection

To achieve the best results in siRNA transfection of primary cells, we recommend
optimizing the following parameters. For appropriate amounts of miRNA mimic/miRNA
inhibitor to transfect, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Amount of siRNA
recommended starting concentration for transfection of siRNA in 24-well plates is given
on each protocol. An example of a pipetting scheme for optimizing siRNA transfection
of keratinocytes in 24-well plates is shown in Table 11.

cell type and siRNA combination used. Starting points for optimization for each cell
type are given in the protocols. To optimize siRNA transfection, prepare separate
reagent–siRNA mixtures, varying the amounts of siRNA and reagent. For example, to
optimize siRNA transfection of keratinocytes in 24-well plates, prepare separate
transfection mixtures according to Table 11.
Table 11. Pipetting scheme for optimizing keratinocyte transfection in 24-well plates*
Amount (conc.) of siRNA 75 ng 75 ng 75 ng

(10 nM) (10 nM) (10 nM)
(5 nM) (5 nM) (5 nM)
(1 nM) (1 nM) (1 nM)

cells before seeding and, where cells are seeded the day before transfection, by
keeping the interval between seeding and transfection constant. This ensures that the
cell density is not too high and that the cells are in optimal physiological condition at
transfection. The recommended number of cells to seed for different formats is shown in
Table 12.
For neurons and hepatocytes, we recommend using the cell number that is required for
successful cultivation. This depends on the experimental conditions and may vary from
experiment to experiment. For other primary cells, we recommend starting with the cell
number given for the cell type that is most similar in morphology and growth behavior.

Table 12. Recommended number of cells to seed for different formats
Culture format Cell number

96-well plate 20,000
These numbers refer to HUVEC, fibroblasts, keratinocytes, epithelial cells, or smooth muscle cells.

Table 13 gives starting points (reagent volume and final siRNA concentration) for
optimization of siRNA transfection of primary cells in different plate formats. The
protocol on page 34 is recommended for HUVEC and other endothelial cells. Protocols
are also provided for fibroblasts (page 36), keratinocytes (page 38), epithelial cells
(page 40), smooth muscle cells (page 42), neurons (page 44), and hepatocytes
(page 46). For all other cells, we recommend using the protocol for the cell type that
is most similar in morphology and growth behavior.
Table 13. Starting points for optimizing transfection of primary cells in different formats*
Smooth
Culture Fibro- Epithelial muscle Hepato-
format HUVEC blasts Keratinocytes cells cells Neurons cytes
96-well 0.75 µl 0.75 µl 1.5 µl 0.75 µl 0.75 µl 0.5 µl 0.75 µl
plate 10 nM 10 nM 5 nM 10 nM 10 nM 50 nM 50 nM
48-well 1.5 µl 1.5 µl 2 µl 1.5 µl 1.5 µl _ _
plate 10 nM 10 nM 5 nM 10 nM 10 nM
24-well 3 µl 3 µl 3 µl 3 µl 3 µl _ _
12-well 6 µl 6 µl 6 µl 6 µl 6 µl _ _
6-well 12 µl 12 µl 12 µl 12 µl 12 µl _ _
* Values given are volumes of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent (µl) and final siRNA concentrations (nM).

References
QIAGEN maintains a large, up-to-date online database of scientific publications
utilizing QIAGEN products. Comprehensive search options allow you to find the articles
you need, either by a simple keyword search or by specifying the application, research
area, title, etc.
For a complete list of references, visit the QIAGEN Reference Database online at
www.qiagen.com/RefDB/search.asp or contact QIAGEN Technical Services or your
local distributor.
For an up-to-date list of cell lines successfully transfected using HiPerFect Transfection
Reagent, visit the Transfection Cell Database at www.qiagen.com/TransfectionTools .
Cited references
1. Jackson, A.L. et al. (2003) Expression profiling reveals off-target gene regulation
by RNAi. Nat. Biotechnol. 21, 635.
2. Saxena, S., Jonsson, Z.O., and Dutta, A. (2003) Small RNAs with imperfect match
to endogenous mRNA repress translation. Implications for off-target activity of
small inhibitory RNA in mammalian cells. J. Biol. Chem. 278, 44312.
3. Scacheri, P.C. et al. (2004) Short interfering RNAs can induce unexpected and
divergent changes in the levels of untargeted proteins in mammalian cells. Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 1892.
4. Sledz, C.A., Holko, M., de Veer, M.J., Silverman, R.H., and Williams, B.R. (2003)
Activation of the interferon system by short-interfering RNAs. Nat. Cell Biol. 5,
834.
5. Semizarov, D., Frost, L., Sarthy, A., Kroeger, P., Halbert, D.N., and Fesik, S.W.
(2003) Specificity of short interfering RNA determined through gene expression
signatures. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 100, 6347.
6. Persengiev, S.P., Zhu, X., and Green, M.R. (2004) Nonspecific, concentration-
dependent stimulation and repression of mammalian gene expression by small
interfering RNAs (siRNAs). RNA 10, 12.

Ordering Information
Product Contents Cat. no.
HiPerFect Transfection HiPerFect Transfection Reagent for up 301704

Reagent (0.5 ml) to 166 transfections in 24-well plates
Reagent (1 ml) to 333 transfections in 24-well plates
Reagent (4 x 1 ml) to 1332 transfections in 24-well plates
HiPerFect Transfection HiPerFect Transfection Reagent for 301709
Reagent (100 ml) transfections in up to 1388 96-well
plates
Related products
FlexiPlate siRNA Custom siRNA set for customer- Varies*
specified genes and siRNA controls;
minimum order 36 siRNAs; 0.1 nmol,
0.25 nmol, or 1 nmol scale; plate
layout chosen by the customer at
GeneGlobe
FlexiTube siRNA 1 nmol siRNA delivered in tubes Varies*
(HP Validated siRNA or HP
GenomeWide siRNA); minimum
order of 4 siRNAs
FlexiTube GeneSolution A package of 4 siRNAs Varies*
recommended for your gene; siRNAs
delivered in tubes in 1-nmol amounts.
HP Genomewide siRNA Predesigned siRNAs for each Varies*
gene of the human, mouse, and rat
genomes
HP Validated siRNA siRNA that has been functionally Varies*
tested for knockdown efficiency by
quantitative RT-PCR
RNAi Human/Mouse Starter Kit 0.5 ml HiPerFect Transfection 301799
Reagent, 9 ml siRNA Suspension
Buffer, AllStars Negative Control siRNA
(Alexa Fluor® 488 Labeled, 5 nmol),
Hs/Mm_MAPK1 Control siRNA
(5 nmol)
* Visit www.qiagen.com/GeneGlobe to search for and order these products.

AllStars Negative Control Validated siRNA with no homology 1027280

siRNA (5 nmol) to any known mammalian gene, for
use as a nonsilencing control
Mm/Hs_MAPK1 control siRNA which knocks down both 1022564
siRNA (5 nmol) human and mouse MAPK1, for use
as a positive control
Rn_Mapk1 Control siRNA which knocks down rat 1027277

siRNA (5 nmol) MAPK1, for use as a positive control
AllStars Hs Cell Death Positive cell death phenotype control 1027298
Control siRNA (5 nmol)
RNeasy Mini Kit (50)† 50 RNeasy Mini Spin Columns, 74104
Collection Tubes (1.5 ml and 2 ml),
RNase-Free Reagents and Buffers
AllPrep RNA/Protein Kit (50) 50 AllPrep Mini Spin Columns, 80404
50 RNeasy Mini Spin Columns,
50 Protein Cleanup Mini Spin
Columns, Collection Tubes,
RNase-Free Reagents and Buffers
QuantiTect Primer Assay (200) For 200 x 50 µl reactions: lyophilized Varies*
mix of forward and reverse primers
QuantiTect SYBR Green For 200 x 50 µl reactions: 3 x 1.7 ml 204243
RT-PCR Kit (200)‡ 2x QuantiTect SYBR Green RT-PCR
Master Mix, 100 µl QuantiTect RT
Mix, 2 x 2 ml RNase-Free Water
QuantiTect SYBR Green For 200 x 50 µl reactions: 3 x 1.7 ml 204143
PCR Kit (200)‡ 2x QuantiTect SYBR Green PCR
Master Mix, 2 x 2 ml RNase-Free
Water
QuantiFast SYBR Green RT-PCR For 400 x 25 µl reactions: 3 x 1.7 ml 204154
Kit (400)‡ 2x Master Mix, 100 µl RT Mix,
2 x 2 ml RNase-Free Water

†
Also available in a larger size and in micro, midi, maxi, and 96-well formats; please inquire.
‡
Also available in larger kit sizes; please inquire.

QuantiFast SYBR Green PCR For 400 x 25 µl reactions: 3 x 1.7 ml 204054

Kit (400)* 2x Master Mix, 2 x 2 ml RNase-Free
Water
QuantiTect Reverse For 50 x 20 µl reactions: gDNA 205311
Transcription Kit (50)* Wipeout Buffer, Quantiscript®
Reverse Transcriptase, Quantiscript
RT Buffer, RT Primer Mix, RNase-Free
Water
miRNeasy Mini Kit (50) For 50 total RNA preps: 50 RNeasy 217004
Mini Spin Columns, Collection Tubes
(1.5 ml and 2 ml), QIAzol® Lysis
Reagent, RNase-Free Reagents and
Buffers
miRNeasy 96 Kit (4) For 4 x 96 total RNA preps: 217061
4 RNeasy 96 plates, Collection
Microtubes (racked), Elution
Microtubes CL, Caps, S-Blocks,
AirPore Tape Sheets, QIAzol Lysis
Reagent, RNase-Free Reagents and
Buffers
miRNeasy FFPE Kit (50) For 50 total RNA preps: 50 RNeasy 217404
MinElute Spin Columns, 50 gDNA
Eliminator Spin Columns, Collection
Tubes, Proteinase K, and RNase-Free
Reagents and Buffers.
miScript Reverse For 10 reactions: miScript Reverse 218060
Transcription Kit (10) Transcriptase Mix, miScript RT Buffer,
RNase-Free Water
miScript Reverse For 50 reactions: miScript Reverse 218061
Transcription Kit (50) Transcriptase Mix, miScript RT Buffer,
RNase-Free Water
miScript SYBR Green For 200 reactions: QuantiTect SYBR 218073
PCR Kit (200) Green PCR Master Mix, miScript
Universal Primer
* Also available in larger kit sizes; please inquire.

miScript SYBR Green For 1000 reactions: QuantiTect SYBR 218075

PCR Kit (1000) Green PCR Master Mix, miScript
Universal Primer
miScript Primer Assay (100) miRNA-specific primer; available via Varies*
GeneGlobe
Human miScript Assay 96 714 miScript Primer Assays targeting 218411
Set V10.1 (100) human miRNAs provided in 96-well
plates
Mouse miScript Assay 96 561 miScript Primer Assays targeting 218412
Set V10.1 (100) mouse miRNAs provided in 96-well
plates
Rat miScript Assay 96 346 miScript Primer Assays targeting 218413
Set V10.1 (100) rat miRNAs provided in 96-well
plates
For up-to-date licensing information and product-specific disclaimers, see the respective
QIAGEN kit handbook or user manual. QIAGEN kit handbooks and user manuals are
available at www.qiagen.com or can be requested from QIAGEN Technical Services or
your local distributor.

Trademarks: QIAGEN®, QIAzol®, QuantiFast®, Quantiscript®, QuantiTect®, GeneGlobe®, Omniscript®, RNeasy® (QIAGEN Group); Alexa Fluor®, SYBR®
(Molecular Probes, Inc.); FACS® (Becton, Dickinson and Company).
siRNA technology licensed to QIAGEN is covered by various patent applications, owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Carnegie Institute
of Washington, Alnylam Corporation, and others.
This product is covered by one or more patent applications and/or foreign counterpart patent applications owned by Synvolux. The purchase of this product
conveys to the buyer the limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable right (without the right to resell, repackage, or further sublicense) under the patent rights to
perform siRNA delivery methods for research purposes solely in conjunction with this product delivered by QIAGEN GmbH, its affiliates or distributors. No
other license is granted to the buyer whether expressly, by implication, by estoppel or otherwise. In particular, the purchase of this product does not include
nor carry any right or license to use or otherwise exploit this product or components of the product in clinical diagnostics, therapeutics or in clinical studies.
This product is sold pursuant to a license from Synvolux, and Synvolux reserves all other rights under these patent rights. For information on purchasing a
license to the patent rights for uses other than in conjunction with this product or to use this product for purposes other than research, please contact Synvolux
at +31-50-311 8115. The Synvolux reference number is SQ-004.
Purchase of miScript, QuantiFast, and QuantiTect SYBR Green Kits is accompanied by a limited, non-transferable immunity from suit to use it with detection
by a dsDNA-binding dye as described in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,994,056 and 6,171,785 and corresponding patent claims outside the United States for the
purchaser’s own internal research. No real-time apparatus or system patent rights or any other patent rights, and no right to use this product for any other
purpose are conveyed expressly, by implication or by estoppel.
Purchase of QuantiFast and QuantiTect SYBR Green RT-PCR Kits is accompanied by a limited, non-transferable license under RT and Reverse Transcription-
PCR patents owned by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd to use it for the purchaser’s own internal research. No real-time patent
rights of any kind, no right under any other patent claims (such as apparatus or system claims), and no right to use this product for any other purpose is
hereby granted expressly, by implication or by estoppel.
QuantiTect Primer Assays and miScript Primer Assays are compatible for use in the 5' nuclease process or the dsDNA-binding dye processes covered by
patents owned by Roche or owned by or licensed to Applera Corporation. No license under these patents to practice the 5' nuclease process or the dsDNA-
binding dye processes are conveyed expressly or by implication to the purchaser by the purchase of this product.
Purchase of QuantiTect SYBR Green PCR Kits, QuantiTect SYBR Green RT-PCR Kits, and miScript SYBR Green PCR Kits is accompanied by a limited license
under U.S. Patent Numbers 5,035,996; 5,945,313, 6,518,026 and 6,287,823 and corresponding foreign patents.
Limited License Agreement
Use of this product signifies the agreement of any purchaser or user of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to the following terms:
1. HiPerFect Transfection Reagent may be used solely in accordance with the HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook and for use with components
contained in the Kit only. QIAGEN grants no license under any of its intellectual property to use or incorporate the enclosed components of this Kit
with any components not included within this Kit except as described in the HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook and additional protocols
available at www.qiagen.com .
2. Other than expressly stated licenses, QIAGEN makes no warranty that this Kit and/or its use(s) do not infringe the rights of third-parties.
3. This Kit and its components are licensed for one-time use and may not be reused, refurbished, or resold.
4. QIAGEN specifically disclaims any other licenses, expressed or implied other than those expressly stated.
5. The purchaser and user of the Kit agree not to take or permit anyone else to take any steps that could lead to or facilitate any acts prohibited above.
QIAGEN may enforce the prohibitions of this Limited License Agreement in any Court, and shall recover all its investigative and Court costs, including
attorney fees, in any action to enforce this Limited License Agreement or any of its intellectual property rights relating to the Kit and/or its components.
For updated license terms, see www.qiagen.com .
© 2008–2010 QIAGEN, all rights reserved.
www.qiagen.com
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1064912 10/2010 Sample & Assay Technologies

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BenchProtocol
Bench Protocol: Fast-Forward Transfection of

Adherent Cells with siRNA/miRNA in 24-Well Plates
Note: Before using this bench protocol, you should be completely familiar with
the safety information and detailed protocols in the HiPerFect Transfection Reagent
Handbook.

Cells should be in optimal physiological condition at transfection.
For appropriate amounts of miRNA mimic/miRNA inhibitor to transfect, refer to
the manufacturer's instructions. Where possible, dilute miRNA mimic/miRNA
inhibitor in the same volume as recommended for siRNA.
Procedure
1. Shortly before transfection, seed 0.4–1.6 x 105 cells per well in 0.5 ml culture
medium containing serum and antibiotics.
2. Incubate cells under normal growth conditions.
3. Dilute 37.5 ng siRNA (1.5 µl of a 2 µM siRNA stock) in 100 µl culture medium
without serum. Add 3 µl HiPerFect Reagent and mix by vortexing.
4. Incubate samples for 5–10 min at room temperature (15–25°C) for complex
formation.
5. Add complexes drop-wise onto cells; gently swirl the plate.
6. Incubate under normal growth conditions and monitor gene silencing after an
appropriate time. Change medium as required.

BenchProtocol
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Bench Protocol: Reverse Transfection of Adherent Cells
Note: Before using this bench protocol, you should be completely familiar with the
safety information and detailed protocols in the HiPerFect Transfection Reagent
Handbook.

Cells should be in optimal physiological condition at transfection.
For appropriate amounts of miRNA mimic/miRNA inhibitor to transfect, refer to
the manufacturer’s instructions. Where possible, dilute miRNA mimic/miRNA
inhibitor in the same volume as recommended for siRNA.
Procedure
1. Spot 12.5 ng siRNA (0.5 µl of a 2 µM siRNA stock) in 1–3 µl of siRNA Suspension
Buffer/RNase-free water into a single well of a 96-well plate.
At this point, siRNA can be stored at –20°C.
2. Add 0.75 µl HiPerFect Reagent to 24.25 µl culture medium without serum. Add
the diluted HiPerFect Reagent to the prespotted siRNA.
3. Incubate for 5–10 min at room temperature (15–25°C) for complex formation.
4. Seed 1–5 x 104 cells in 175 µl culture medium (containing serum and antibiotics)
into the well, on top of the transfection complexes.
5. Incubate under normal growth conditions and monitor gene silencing after an
appropriate time. Change medium as required.

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Fifth Edition October 2010

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent

For transfection of eukaryotic cells with siRNA

Sample & Assay Technologies

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 3

4 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

Shipping and Storage

Product Use Limitations

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 5

6 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 7

Principle and procedure

High knockdown and minimal risk of off-target effects in RNAi

8 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

Decreasing siRNA concentration

Increasing silencing effect

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 9

Protocols for various cell types and for special applications

Protocols for adherent cells

10 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

Cell seeding Cell seeding

Fast-Forward Protocol Reverse-Transfection Protocol

Step 2. Transfection complexes Step 2. HiPerFect Reagent

Step 1. Cells Step 1. Nucleic acid

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 11

Protocols for primary cells

Protocols for special applications with adherent cells

12 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 13

Optimizing siRNA transfection

Ratio of HiPerFect Transfection Reagent to siRNA

14 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

Amount (conc.) of siRNA 75 ng 75 ng 75ng

* Amounts given are per well of a 24-well plate.

Cell density at transfection

Table 2. Recommended number of adherent cells to seed for different formats

Culture format Fast-Forward Protocol

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 15

Volume of Final Volume of

Table 4. Volumes of siRNA stock for different siRNA amounts

16 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

Performing appropriate RNAi control experiments

Positive control siRNA

Negative control siRNA

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 17

Transfection control siRNA

Mock transfection control

Untransfected cells control

Additional siRNAs for phenotype confirmation

Monitoring gene silencing at the mRNA or protein level

18 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 19

This protocol is provided as a starting point for optimization of siRNA/miRNA

transfection of adherent cells in a single well of a 24-well plate using HiPerFect

Important points before starting

20 HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010

HiPerFect Transfection Reagent Handbook 10/2010 21

Note: Transfection in 96-well plates can also be performed using a Fast-Forward

Important points before starting