Novel two-stage screening procedure leads to the identification of a new class of transfection enhancers.

Background: Non-viral gene transfer efficiency is low as compared to viral vector systems. Here we describe the discovery of new drugs that are capable of enhancing non-viral gene transfer into mammalian cells using a novel two-stage screening procedure.

Methods: First, potential candidates are preselected from a molecular library at various concentrations by a semi-automated yeast transfection screen (YTS).