Biolistic Transfection of Organotypic Brain Slices and Dissociated Cells

The introduction of genetic material into cells and tissues of interest remains a rate-limiting step for molecular investigations in many fields, especially neurobiology. Many different methods have been developed to transfect cells—DNA-mediated gene transfer, microinjection, electroporation, lipofection, and viral transfection—and for many cell types, gene transfer using these methods has become a routine tool for studying gene regulation and function. However, many other cell types, particulary postmitotic neurons, have not been easily transfected by these methods.