Introduction 3'-Tetramethylindocarbocyanine Perchlorate
3'-Tetramethylarylcarbocyanine perchlorate, also known as DiI or DiIC18(3), is a lipophilic, fluorescent dye that is widely utilized in biological and physiological research for staining and tracing cell membranes, lipid rafts, and organelles.
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Properties of 3'-Tetramethylarylcarbocyanine Perchlorate
- Fluorescence: DiI emits a bright red-orange fluorescence signal when excited with appropriate wavelengths of light. It has an excitation wavelength of approximately 549 nm and an emission wavelength of around 565 nm, making it useful for fluorescence microscopy and imaging applications.
- Lipophilicity: DiI is highly lipophilic, enabling it to easily penetrate and label cellular membranes. It is commonly used to label cell membranes for long-term tracing experiments due to its strong affinity for lipid bilayers.
- Stability: DiI is known for its stability, making it suitable for long-term tracking studies. Once the dye is incorporated into the cell membrane, it remains there even after several cell divisions.
- Non-toxicity: DiI is considered non-toxic to cells at the concentrations typically used for labeling. This feature is essential for avoiding unwanted effects on the biological functions of the labeled cells.
- Photostability: DiI is relatively resistant to photobleaching, allowing for extended imaging periods without significant loss of fluorescence signal.
- Biocompatibility: DiI is compatible with a wide range of biological samples and systems, including cell cultures, tissues, and organisms. It has been successfully employed in various model organisms for developmental biology and neural tracing studies.
These properties collectively make DiI a valuable tool for studying cell morphology, migration, connectivity, and other dynamic processes in biological research.
Usage in Biological Applications
- Cell Labeling and Tracing: DiI is commonly used in cell labeling experiments to trace and track the migration, adhesion, and interaction of cells in biological systems. It is particularly useful for long-term tracking of cells due to its stability.
- Neuronal Tracing: DiI is widely used in neuroanatomical studies to trace neuronal projections and connectivity. It can be applied to a specific region of interest and track axonal projections, dendritic arbors, and cell bodies.
- Membrane Labeling: Due to its lipophilic nature, DiI can be used to label cell membranes and lipid bilayers. It is often used in studies involving cell fusion, membrane dynamics, and lipid transfer processes.
- Angiography: DiI can be used to label blood vessels and visualize vascular networks in tissues. This is particularly useful in angiogenesis studies or when studying the development of vascular structures.
- Drug Delivery Studies: DiI can be incorporated into drug delivery systems to track the accumulation and distribution of drugs or nanoparticles within cells and tissues.
- Fluorescence Microscopy: DiI emits red fluorescence when excited with appropriate light, making it suitable for fluorescence microscopy imaging. It is often used in combination with other fluorophores for multicolor labeling and imaging experiments.
- Particle Tracking: In addition to cell tracking, DiI can be used to label particles or microspheres for tracking their movement in fluid dynamics or particle studies.
- Lipid Bilayer Studies: DiI is used in biophysical studies to investigate lipid bilayer properties, membrane fusion events, and membrane dynamics.
Overall, 3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate is a versatile dye that finds applications in various fields such as biology, neuroscience, cell biology, and pharmacology due to its excellent fluorescent properties, stability, and compatibility with imaging techniques.
