Yes, you can transfect differentiated cells, including skeletal muscle cells. Transfection of differentiated cells can be more challenging than transfecting undifferentiated cells due to factors such as decreased cell proliferation and altered cellular morphology. However, it's still feasible.
When transfecting differentiated cells like skeletal muscle cells, you may need to optimize your transfection protocol to enhance efficiency. This could involve selecting appropriate transfection reagents and optimizing transfection conditions such as cell density, transfection reagent-to-DNA ratio, and incubation time.
DNA plasmid transient transfection is one method commonly used to introduce exogenous DNA into cells, including differentiated cells. In this method, the DNA plasmid containing the gene of interest is introduced into the cells, typically with the help of transfection reagents. The plasmid DNA can then be expressed by the cells, leading to the production of the desired protein.
Keep in mind that the efficiency of transient transfection can vary depending on the cell type and the specific experimental conditions. Additionally, the expression of the transfected gene may not be as stable or long-lasting as with other methods such as stable transfection or viral transduction.
Overall, while transfecting differentiated cells like skeletal muscle cells may present challenges, it is certainly possible with optimization of protocols and careful consideration of experimental conditions.