trypanblåt
Trypanblåt, also known as trypan blue, is a vital stain used in biological research and medical diagnostics. It is a diazo dye with the chemical formula C34H24N6Na2O6S2. Its primary function is to selectively stain dead cells or cells with compromised cell membranes. Live cells, with their intact membranes, typically exclude the trypan blue dye, remaining unstained. In contrast, cells that have undergone apoptosis or necrosis, and therefore have damaged cell membranes, readily absorb the dye and appear blue under a microscope.
The mechanism of action relies on the dye's inability to cross intact cell membranes. When a cell
The preparation of trypan blue solutions typically involves dissolving the dye powder in a saline solution.