Objective To construct a lentivirus vector expressing miRNA-18a-3P, and to discuss the optimal steps and methods in infecting human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Methods Target gene which was digestied to be amplified by PCR, and then those target genes were connected with carriers. The products were transformed into bacterial competent cells. The positive clones were sequenced and analyzed to construct miR-18a- 3P overexpression or interference lentiviral vectors. The virus titer was determined by fluorescence method. In the process of transfection and screening of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, the transfection efficiency was observed by inverted microscope, and the optimal MOI value was screened. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-18a-3P in MDA-MB-231 cells after lentivirus transfection. Results Sequencing proved that recombinant lentiviral expression vector was constructed correctly. The titer of obtained overexpression and suppression expression recombinant lentivirus was 2×109 TU/ml and 1×109 TU/ml. The transfection efficiency was higher in the polybrene group than in the non-polybrene group, and the transfection efficiency was the best when the polybrene concentration was 1 μg/ml. The expression of mir-18a-3p in mir-18a-3p transfection group was higher than that in blank control group and negative control group (P < 0.05). The expression of mir-18a-3p in mir-18a-3p interference group was lower than that in blank control group and negative control group. Conclusions The lentiviral expression or interference vector for miR-18a-3P is successfully constructed, and target cells can be obtained after transfection and selection of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.