Trypan blue

Trypan Blue

Names
IUPAC name (3Z,3'Z)-3,3'-[(3,3'-dimethylbiphenyl-4,4'-diyl)di(1Z)hydrazin-2-yl-1-ylidene]bis(5-amino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydronaphthalene-2,7-disulfonic acid)
Identifiers
CAS Number	72-57-1 (tetrasodium salt) Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:78897 N
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1640 Y
ChemSpider	10482308 Y
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
KEGG	C19307 N
PubChem	5904246
UNII	I2ZWO3LS3M Y
InChI InChI=1S/C34H28N6O14S4.4Na/c1-15-7-17(3-5-25(15)37-39-31-27(57(49,50)51)11-19-9-21(55(43,44)45)13-23(35)29(19)33(31)41)18-4-6-26(16(2)8-18)38-40-32-28(58(52,53)54)12-20-10-22(56(46,47)48)14-24(36)30(20)34(32)42;;;;/h3-14,41-42H,35-36H2,1-2H3,(H,43,44,45)(H,46,47,48)(H,49,50,51)(H,52,53,54);;;;/q;4*+1/p-4/b39-37+,40-38+;;;; Y Key: GLNADSQYFUSGOU-GPTZEZBUSA-J Y InChI=1S/C34H28N6O14S4.4Na/c1-15-7-17(3-5-25(15)37-39-31-27(57(49,50)51)11-19-9-21(55(43,44)45)13-23(35)29(19)33(31)41)18-4-6-26(16(2)8-18)38-40-32-28(58(52,53)54)12-20-10-22(56(46,47)48)14-24(36)30(20)34(32)42;;;;/h3-14,41-42H,35-36H2,1-2H3,(H,43,44,45)(H,46,47,48)(H,49,50,51)(H,52,53,54);;;;/q;4*+1/p-4/b39-37+,40-38+;;;; Key: GLNADSQYFUSGOU-WLILTGDCBQ Key: GLNADSQYFUSGOU-GPTZEZBUSA-J
SMILES [Na+].[Na+].[Na+].[Na+].[O-]S(=O)(=O)c6cc1cc(cc(N)c1c(O)c6/N=N/c2ccc(cc2C)c5ccc(/N=N/c4c(cc3cc(cc(N)c3c4O)S([O-])(=O)=O)S([O-])(=O)=O)c(C)c5)S([O-])(=O)=O
Properties
Chemical formula	C34H28N6O14S4
Molar mass	872.88
Appearance	deep blue in aqueous solution
Melting point	> 300 °C (572 °F; 573 K)
Solubility in water	<0.1 mg/mL in water
Solubility	20 mg/mL in methyl Cellosolve, and 0.6 mg/mL in ethanol
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Trypan blue is a vital stain used to selectively colour dead tissues or cells blue. It is a diazo dye.

Live cells or tissues with intact cell membranes are not coloured. Since cells are very selective in the compounds that pass through the membrane, in a viable cell trypan blue is not absorbed; however, it traverses the membrane in a dead cell. Hence, dead cells are shown as a distinctive blue colour under a microscope. Since live cells are excluded from staining, this staining method is also described as a dye exclusion method. This dye may be a cause of certain birth defects such as encephalocele.

Background & chemistry

Trypan blue is derived from toluidine, that is, any of several isomeric bases, C₁₄H₁₆N₂, derived from toluene. Trypan blue is so-called because it can kill trypanosomes, the parasites that cause sleeping sickness. An analog of trypan blue, suramin is used pharmacologically against trypanosomiasis. Trypan blue is also known as diamine blue and Niagara blue.

The extinction coefficient for trypan blue is 6 x 10⁴ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 607nm in methanol.

Trypan red and Trypan blue were first synthesized by the German scientist Paul Ehrlich in 1904.

Uses of trypan blue

Observation with an optical microscope of Hyaloperonospora parasitica within a leaf of Arabidopsis thaliana by using the trypan blue staining.

Trypan blue is commonly used in microscopy (for cell counting) and in laboratory mice for assessment of tissue viability. The method cannot distinguish between necrotic and apoptotic cells.

It may be used to observe fungal hyphae and Stramenopiles.

Trypan blue is also used in ophthalmic cataract surgery to stain the anterior capsule in the presence of a mature cataract, to aid in visualization, before creating the continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis.

Synonyms

• Azidine Blue 3B
• Benzamine Blue 3B
• Benzo Blue 3B
• Chlorazol Blue 3B
• Diamine Blue 3B
• Dianil Blue H3G
• Direct Blue 14
• Niagara Blue 3B

Further reading

• Chapter "Detection of Caspase Activation Combined with Other Probes of Apoptosis", Eurekah Bioscience Collection, NCBI bookshelf
• Protocol for use of the dye (PDF) from Northwestern University
• Wainwright M. Biotech Histochem. 2010 Dec;85(6):341-54. doi: 10.3109/10520290903297528. Dyes, trypanosomiasis and DNA: a historical and critical review.