Astrocytes is an important cell type that participates in hemostasis of brain tissue. They perform several functions, including biochemical support of endothelial cells that form the blood brain barrier, nutrient support to nerve tissues, maintenance of extracellular ion balance, and repair of brain and spinal cord following traumatic injuries. They may also go rouge and give rise to brain tumors (astrocytomas). Modification of astrocytes by genetic means is explored to better understand their physiology and use for therapeutic purposes. They are investigated for spinal cord injuries and modification of cells, either to secrete a desired protein (by an expression vector) or to be transformed into a supportive phenotype (by suppressing certain mediators). It is more desirable to explore non-viral methods to deliver the genetic materials into the cells for safety reasons. Transfection reagents from RJH Biosciences have been explored for this purpose to show that (i) transgenes can be expressed in the cells with a plasmid DNA (pDNA) and (ii) siRNA uptake into the cells is possible.