On-chip transfection of PC12 cells based on the rational understanding of the role of ECM molecules: efficient, non-viral transfection of PC12 cells using collagen IV.

Transfection microarrays (TMA) are important emerging tools for the study of genetic events in living cells in a high-throughput fashion and with significant material economy. However, the difficulty to transfect various relevant cell types on-chip hinders the use of TMAs. Herein we present the realization of a transfection microarray applicable to PC12 cells that heavily relies on the use of ECM molecules. Collagen IV and at a lesser extent laminin or collagen I, but not fibronectin or poly-l-lysine were found to significantly increase the solution-phase as well as on-chip transfection efficiency of PC12 cells. The highest transfection efficiency obtained was consistently above 60%. The observed correlations between the transfection efficiencies and the differential adhesion-induced events triggered by the studied ECMs provides the basis for the rationalization of the role of ECMs on the transfection process.