Lipofection process

For automation, the lipofection process was split of into four independent parts as follows (i) preparation of cationic liposomes, (ii) formation of lipo-plexes, (iii) transfection of the cells, and (iv) quantification of the lipofection efficiency and lipofection-induced cytotoxicity. As shown in Figure 1, this subdivision corresponds to the typical lipofection procedure and each part can be performed separately. 

Peptide modification of liposomes offers the potential for enhancing the packaging process and for enhancing each stage of the lipofection process, to ultimately improve transfection efficiency. 

As indicated in Figure 1, the process of lipofection can be divided into independent steps (i) preparation of a lipofection reagent, (ii) formation of lipoplexes, and (iii) the transfection itself. 

To bridge this gap, liposomal transfection efficiency can be dramatically enhanced by the inclusion of peptides into the complex without increasing immunogenicity. Peptides can be selected to assist lipofection at each key stage of the process complex formation, cell targeting and uptake, endosomal disruption, and nuclear targeting. The purpose of this chapter is... 

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