This can be solved either using a recipient with a homologous plasmid or using plasmid multimers so that the overlapping single strand fragments can regenerate a plasmid monomer. In general, transformation allows the transfer of reasonably small, apparently random, pieces of chromosomal or plasmid DNA from a donor to a recipient. As with any gene transfer system, the transferred DNA is selectable only if stably inherited in the recipient cell. Compared with conjugation, transformation is rather slow and work-intensive, not only because of the requirement for isolation of DNA, but also because competent cells need to be produced. However, it is often the only method available, especially if the DNA in question is a result of in vitro constructions.
Transformation also tends to become extremely inefficient as the size of the DNA increases.
One of the solutions has been to package large pieces of DNA into phage heads in vitro and then have the constructed phage inject the DNA into the desired cells.