Thermo Fisher Scientific launches new Lipofectamine MessengerMAX reagent

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the launch of Lipofectamine MessengerMAX, a new transfection reagent targeting neurons and primary cells.

Allowing researchers to study predictive cell models and human disease more efficiently, this new high-efficiency transfection reagent for mRNA delivery in neurons and primary cell types has been designed to deliver up to five times the efficiency of typical DNA reagents.

This makes it possible to easily transfect biologically relevant cell models without electroporation or viruses. The new product utilises novel lipid nanoparticle technology that has been optimised to deliver the highest amount of mRNA possible without needing to enter the nucleus.

Xavier de Mollerat du Jeu, associate director for cell biology at Thermo Fisher Scientific, said: "In order to maximise the product's efficiency, we have designed it to protect mRNA against degradation and to deliver the maximum amount of mRNA in the cytoplasm of the cells."

This represents the first high-efficiency transfection reagent to be added to the company's portfolio since introducing Lipofectamine 3000 in January 2014.

Also introduced by the firm this week was the Sorvall WX Plus ultracentrifuge, which allows users to easily protect samples while achieving reliable and consistent results.