Sign In to View Organizational & Contract Pricing.
Select a Size
Change View
About This Item
Linear Formula:
(C6H10O5)n
CAS Number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352201
NACRES:
NA.25
EC Number:
232-677-5
MDL number:
biological source
bacterial (Leuconostoc mesenteroides)
Quality Level
form
powder
optical activity
[α]/D 199°
mol wt
average mol wt 1,500,000-2,800,000
technique(s)
gel permeation chromatography (GPC): suitable
color
white
application(s)
advanced drug delivery
agriculture
life science and biopharma
microbiology
storage temp.
2-8°C
SMILES string
O1C(C(C(C(C1CO)O)O)O)OCC2OC(C(C(C2O)O)O)OCC(O)C(O)C(O)C(O)C=O
InChI
1S/C18H32O16/c19-1-5(21)9(23)10(24)6(22)3-31-17-16(30)14(28)12(26)8(34-17)4-32-18-15(29)13(27)11(25)7(2-20)33-18/h1,5-18,20-30H,2-4H2
InChI key
FZWBNHMXJMCXLU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
General description
Dextrans, a class of polysaccharides primarily composed of glucose units linked by alpha-(1-6) bonds, exhibit versatile properties. These water-soluble, high molecular-weight dextran polymers find extensive use in various biomedical applications. The specific structure of dextran can vary, depending on the microbial strain responsible for its production. Due to their unique attributes, dextrans play crucial roles in biochemical, cell culture, drug delivery studies, and biomedical research.
Application
Dextrans are used in many applications as platelet aggregants, plasma volume extenders, osmotic pressure regulators, stabilizers, organ separation media, matrix components, copolymers, microcarriers, binding agents, viscosity modifiers, antithrombotics, lubricants and physical structure components. They may be used as long hydrophilic spacer arms to improve the performance (freedom of movement) of conjugated/bound proteins. Dextrans may be derivatized for use in biosensor systems.
Dextrans of less than 60,000Da are generally considered low molecular weight dextrans. Low molecular weight dextrans are often preferred versus high molecular weight dextrans due to their viscosities, aggregation and permeation properties. High molecular weight, water-soluble, dextran polymers have been used in a wide variety of biomedical applications. Dextran (1500-2800), a high molecular weight dextran, may be used to induce blood aggregation and as a high viscosity plasma expander (HVPE).
Dextrans of less than 60,000Da are generally considered low molecular weight dextrans. Low molecular weight dextrans are often preferred versus high molecular weight dextrans due to their viscosities, aggregation and permeation properties. High molecular weight, water-soluble, dextran polymers have been used in a wide variety of biomedical applications. Dextran (1500-2800), a high molecular weight dextran, may be used to induce blood aggregation and as a high viscosity plasma expander (HVPE).
Use of dextrans as long and hydrophilic spacer arms improves the performance of immobilized proteins acting on macromolecules.
Biochem/physiol Actions
- Osmotic Balance: Dextran helps maintain osmotic balance by increasing the solute concentration in a solution. This prevents excessive water movement across cell membranes, thus maintaining cell integrity and function.
- Cryoprotection: Dextran acts as a cryoprotectant by forming a protective barrier around cells and tissues during freezing. This barrier inhibits the formation of ice crystals, which can damage cell membranes and structures.
- Viscosity Control: Dextran can alter the viscosity of solutions by increasing the molecular weight of the solution. This change in viscosity affects the flow properties of the solution, making it useful for controlling the thickness of solutions in various processes.
- Drug Delivery: Modified dextran serves as a carrier for controlled drug delivery. Dextran can encapsulate drugs and release them gradually, enhancing drug solubility and controlling the release profiles to improve therapeutic outcomes.
- Gel Electrophoresis: Dextran increases the density of sample-loading solutions in gel electrophoresis. This increased density helps samples sink into the gel matrix, allowing for more precise separation of molecules based on size and charge during electrophoresis.
- Enzyme Stabilization: Dextran stabilizes enzymes by providing a protective environment. It forms a stable matrix around enzymes, enhancing their activity and extending their lifespan in various biochemical reactions. This protection prevents enzyme denaturation and inactivation, allowing enzymes to function more effectively.
Features and Benefits
- Dextran with an average molecular weight range of 1,500,000-2,800,000
- Freely soluble in Water, DMSO, formamide, ethylene glycol, and glycerol
- Versatile and adaptable for a wide variety of laboratory and research applications
Preparation Note
With the exception of the highest MW dextran, D5501 (MW range = 5 million to 40 million), dextrans are very water soluble. Sigma tests the solubility of dextrans at concentrations generally exceeding 30 mg/ml in water. Dextrans are also freely soluble in DMSO, formamide, ethylene glycol, and glycerol. Neutral-aqueous dextran solutions can be sterilized by autoclaving at 110-115oC for 30 to 45 minutes. Dextran can be hydrolyzed by strong acids at high temperatures. The terminal reducing end group of dextran can be oxidized in alkaline solutions.
Other Notes
For additional information on our range of Biochemicals, please complete this form.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of our extensive range of Dextrans for your research, we encourage you to visit our Carbohydrates Category page.
Still not finding the right product?
Explore all of our products under Dextran from Leuconostoc mesenteroides
Storage Class
11 - Combustible Solids
flash_point_f
Not applicable
flash_point_c
Not applicable
ppe
Eyeshields, Gloves, type N95 (US)
Choose from one of the most recent versions:
Already Own This Product?
Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.
Tahmineh Khazaei et al.
Science advances, 6(33), eaba0353-eaba0353 (2020-08-28)
Major changes in the microbiome are associated with health and disease. Some microbiome states persist despite seemingly unfavorable conditions, such as the proliferation of aerobe-anaerobe communities in oxygen-exposed environments in wound infections or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Mechanisms underlying transitions
Elizabeth M Bradshaw et al.
Nature neuroscience, 16(7), 848-850 (2013-05-28)
In our functional dissection of the CD33 Alzheimer's disease susceptibility locus, we found that the rs3865444(C) risk allele was associated with greater cell surface expression of CD33 in the monocytes (t50 = 10.06, P(joint) = 1.3 × 10(-13)) of young
Boon M Teo et al.
Biochimica et biophysica acta, 1830(10), 4838-4847 (2013-07-03)
Liposomes have gained immerse attention in the field of drug delivery as carriers of therapeutic molecules. Their modification with a polymer either to make them stealth (e.g. using PEG) and/or more stable (e.g. using poly(dopamine) (PDA)) is a crucial aspect