Thermo Fisher Scientific Dextran, Amino, 500,000 MW

Invitrogen™ Dextran, Amino, 500,000 MW

Labeled dextrans are hydrophilic polysaccharides commonly used in microscopy to monitor cell division, track live cell movement, and analyze the hydrodynamic properties of the cytoplasmic matrix. These dextrans are typically introduced into cells via microinjection.

Need a different emission spectrum or longer tracking? View other mammalian cell tracking products.

Dextran Specifications

High Manufacturing Standards of Molecular Probes™ Dextrans

Thermo Fisher Scientific offers more than 50 fluorescent and biotinylated dextran conjugates across several molecular weight ranges. Dextrans are hydrophilic polysaccharides with moderate-to-high molecular weight, excellent water solubility, and low toxicity. They exhibit low immunogenicity and are biologically inert due to their poly-(α-D-1,6-glucose) linkages, which resist cleavage by most endogenous glycosidases.

Molecular Probes™ fluorescent dextrans are typically brighter and more negatively charged than other sources. Rigorous purification processes remove unconjugated dye, and thin-layer chromatography ensures minimal low molecular weight contaminants.

A Wide Selection of Substituents and Molecular Weights

Molecular Probes™ dextrans are conjugated to biotin or various fluorophores, including seven Alexa Fluor™ dyes. Available molecular weights (MW): 3,000; 10,000; 40,000; 70,000; 500,000; and 2,000,000 daltons.
See Molecular Probes dextran conjugates–Table 14.4

Dextran Net Charge and Fixability

• Succinimidyl coupling yields neutral or anionic dextrans.
• Alexa Fluor™, Cascade Blue™, lucifer yellow, fluorescein, and Oregon Green™ dextrans are anionic.
• Rhodamine B, tetramethylrhodamine, and Texas Red™ dextrans are essentially neutral.
• Polyanionic dextrans are available for applications requiring higher negative charge.
• Lysine-fixable versions allow aldehyde-based fixation for immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis.
• All 10,000 MW Alexa Fluor™ dextran conjugates can be fixed with aldehyde-based fixatives.

Key Applications Using Labeled Dextrans

• Neuronal tracing (anterograde and retrograde) in live cells
• Cell lineage tracing
• Neuroanatomical tracing
• Examining intercellular communication (e.g., gap junctions, wound healing, embryonic development)
• Investigating vascular permeability and blood–brain barrier integrity
• Tracking endocytosis
• Monitoring acidification (pH-sensitive dextran–dye conjugates)
• Studying hydrodynamic properties of the cytoplasmic matrix

For Research Use Only. Not intended for any animal or human therapeutic or diagnostic use.