Dimethyl sulfoxide CAS NO.67-68-5

DMSO is a highly polar organic solvent with many applications in chemical and biological research. DMSO can uniquely provide solubility to certain …

DMSO is a highly polar organic solvent with many applications in chemical and biological research. DMSO can uniquely provide solubility to certain very polar small molecules, such as simple biomolecules with multiple protic functional groups. It can also be used as an oxidation reagent in certain transformations. The yield of PCR processes is amplified with DMSO as a co-solvent, helping to inhibit the formation of secondary structures from DNA fragments. In addition, the solvent has reported uses in the prevention of ice crystal formation during cryopreservation. Ice crystal formation damages cells and tissues and normally results in their death. DMSO is an excellent option for cryopreservation because it is able to penetrate cells and tissues easily, preventing ice formation within the cell and it has low toxicity.