Labeled Dextran Conjugate Products

Dextran is a natural synthetic polysaccharide with good water solubility, low toxicity and different molecular weight. They have been successfully used as long-term tracers for living cells. Our dextran is purified by size chromatography to remove unbound molecules and ensure proper cell biology analysis applications. Dextran is functionalized with various groups, dyes and other biomolecules.

Dextrans Features

Dextrans is a hydrophilic polysaccharide synthesized by Leuconostoc bacteria. They have a high molecular weight and have various sizes after fractionation. Dextran has good water solubility, low toxicity and relatively inertness. Their α-1,6-polyglucose bonds are resistant to cleavage by most endogenous cellular glycosidases. These properties enable Dextrans to be used as an effective water-soluble carrier for dyes, indicators and reactive groups in various applications, especially as a long-term tracer for living cells. Dextran conjugates with a variety of molecular weights (3 000, 10 000, 40 000, 70 000, 500 000) and labeled with a wide range of substituents can be used.

Advantages of Dextran for neuron staining：

• 3,000 and 10,000 MW
• Direct fluorescence or secondary detection
• Loading by microinjection or iontophoresis
• Repairable and light stabilized options

Applications

Fluorescent and biotinylated dextran are commonly used to track neuronal projections. Dextran conjugates with a molecular weight of up to 70 000 Daltons are widely used to track neuronal projections. The 3 000 MW dextran conjugate penetrates the peripheral neuronal processes better than the high MW dextran and diffuses faster. In contrast, 10,000 MW dextran remains in the cell and does not cross gap junctions. They distribute slowly, but the cells retain longer. Most conjugates are lysine immobilized and can be used in combination with antibody labels. The labeled dextran can be effectively used as an antegrade or retrograde tracer, depending on the research method and tissue type used.

In addition to reactive dye formulations, we also provide dyes conjugated with a variety of antibodies, peptides, proteins, tracers and amplification substrates to optimize cell labeling and detection. Please contact us for more details.