title: Ammonia-containing dimethyl sulfoxide: an improved solvent for the dissolution of formazan crystals in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.
abstract: To reduce interference with the dissolution of formazan crystals in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we conducted a systematic investigation to study the effects of various buffers, HCl, NaOH, and ammonia. As a result, we identified an improved solvent, alkaline dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) containing 8 to 800 mM ammonia, which could dissolve formazan crystals in approximately 10 min so as to give a stable spectrum by eliminating buffering effects of the residual medium.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Hengwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fengqing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xinyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Hairong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005562:Formazans; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005562:Formazans; D012997:Solvents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D000641:Ammonia; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide