Dextran sulfate

Dextran sulfate (CAS 9042-14-2), also referenced commercially as Dextran sulfate 500 in reference to its high-molecular-weight form, is a sulfated polysaccharide used across pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications.

It functions primarily as a biochemical reagent, anticoagulant agent, and cell culture supplement in research and manufacturing contexts. In molecular biology workflows, it accelerates nucleic acid hybridization.

This material is used in Southern and Northern blotting protocols, reducing assay time and improving signal sensitivity. Pharmaceutical manufacturers use it as a reference compound in heparin-binding studies.

It also serves as a model anticoagulant in preclinical research. In lipid research and clinical diagnostics, it is used in precipitation assays to isolate LDL cholesterol fractions from serum samples.

Biotechnology producers also incorporate it into cell expansion media to support suspension culture stability. This helps reduce aggregation in bioreactor systems during large-scale production cycles.

The product is supplied as a white to off-white powder and as aqueous solution concentrates. It is available in multiple molecular weight grades, most commonly 5,000, 40,000, and 500,000 Da.

The 500 kDa grade is the standard for hybridization and cell culture use. Research-grade and pharmaceutical-grade specifications are available to meet various industry requirements.

The sodium salt form is the predominant commercial offering. All batches are tested to ensure they meet rigorous internal quality controls and relevant USP or EP standards where applicable.