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Calcein Blue, AM *CAS 168482-84-6*

It is a cell-permeable version of calcein blue. Upon getting into live cells the weakly fluorescent calcein blue AM is hydrolyzed into calcein blue that has the excitation/emission maxima similar to those of DAPI, Hoechst and AMCA. This exceptional spectral separation from the typical green and red fluorophores (such as FITC, TMR and Texas Red) provides additional options for multiplexing experiments. Because calcein blue AM is intrinsically fluorescent, a proper filter set and additional wash step may be necessary to minimize background fluorescence. Our calcium assay buffers may be used to effectively wash extracellular calcein blue.

Example protocol

PREPARATION OF STOCK SOLUTIONS

Unless otherwise noted, all unused stock solutions should be divided into single-use aliquots and stored at -20 °C after preparation. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Calcein Blue, AM Stock Solution
Prepare a 2 to 5 mM stock solution of Calcein Blue AM in high-quality, anhydrous DMSO.
Note     The nonionic detergent Pluronic® F-127 can be used to increase the aqueous solubility of AM esters. In the staining buffer, the final Pluronic® F-127 concentration should be approximately 0.02%. A variety of Pluronic® F-127 products can be purchased from AAT Bioquest. Avoid long-term storage of AM esters in the presence of Pluronic® F-127.

PREPARATION OF WORKING SOLUTION

Calcein Blue, AM Working Solution
Prepare a Calcein Blue AM working solution of 1 to 10 µM in the buffer of your choice (e.g., Hanks and Hepes buffer). For most cell lines, Calcein Blue AM at the final concentration of 4 to 5 µM is recommended. The exact concentration of indicators required for cell loading must be determined empirically.
Note     If your cells contain organic anion-transporters, probenecid (1–2.5 mM) or sulfinpyrazone (0.1–0.25 mM) may be added to the working solution to reduce leakage of the de-esterified indicators.

SAMPLE EXPERIMENTAL PROTOCOL

  1. Prepare cells for imaging.
  2. Remove the cell culture medium and wash cells once with serum-free buffer to remove any remaining media.
    Note     Serum in cell culture media may contain esterase activity, which can increase background interference.
  3. Add Calcein Blue AM working solution to the culture.
  4. Incubate cells at 37 °C for 30 to 60 minutes.
  5. Replace the dye working solution with HHBS or buffer of your choice (containing an anion transporter inhibitor, such as 1 mM probenecid, if applicable) to remove any excess probes.
  6. Measure the fluorescence intensity using either a fluorescence microscope equipped with a DAPI filter set, a flow cytometer equipped with a 450/40 nm filter (Pacific Blue channel), or a fluorescence plate reader at Ex/Em = 360/450 nm cutoff 420 nm. 

Calculators

Common stock solution preparation

Table 1. Volume of DMSO needed to reconstitute specific mass of Calcein Blue, AM *CAS 168482-84-6* to given concentration. Note that volume is only for preparing stock solution. Refer to sample experimental protocol for appropriate experimental/physiological buffers.

0.1 mg0.5 mg1 mg5 mg10 mg
1 mM214.864 µL1.074 mL2.149 mL10.743 mL21.486 mL
5 mM42.973 µL214.864 µL429.729 µL2.149 mL4.297 mL
10 mM21.486 µL107.432 µL214.864 µL1.074 mL2.149 mL

Molarity calculator

Enter any two values (mass, volume, concentration) to calculate the third.

Mass (Calculate)Molecular weightVolume (Calculate)Concentration (Calculate)Moles
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Spectrum

Product family

NameExcitation (nm)Emission (nm)
Calcein Red™ AM562576
Calcein UltraBlue™ AM359458
Calcein UltraGreen™ AM492514
Thiolite™ Blue, AM335460

Citations

View all 18 citations: Citation Explorer
3D Bioprinting of Prevascularized Full-Thickness Gelatin-Alginate Structures with Embedded Co-Cultures
Authors: B{\"o}ttcher, Bastian and Pflieger, Astrid and Schumacher, Jan and Jungnickel, Berit and Feller, Karl-Heinz
Journal: Bioengineering (2022): 242
Functional imaging of neuronal activity of auditory cortex by using Cal-520 in anesthetized and awake mice
Authors: Li, Jingcheng and Zhang, Jianxiong and Wang, Meng and Pan, Junxia and Chen, Xiaowei and Liao, Xiang
Journal: Biomedical Optics Express (2017): 2599--2610
NINJ2--A novel regulator of endothelial inflammation and activation
Authors: Wang, Jingjing and Fa, Jingjing and Wang, Pengyun and Jia, Xinzhen and Peng, Huixin and Chen, Jing and Wang, Yifan and Wang, Chenhui and Chen, Qiuyun and Tu, Xin and others, undefined
Journal: Cellular Signalling (2017)
Influence of hypothermia and subsequent rewarming upon leukocyte-endothelial interactions and expression of Junctional-Adhesion-Molecules A and B
Authors: Bogert, Nicolai V and Werner, Isabella and Kornberger, Angela and Meybohm, Patrick and Moritz, Anton and Keller, Till and Stock, Ulrich A and Beiras-Fern, undefined and ez, Andres
Journal: Scientific reports (2016)
Inhibition of ABC transport proteins by oil sands process affected water
Authors: Alharbi, Hattan A and Saunders, David MV and Al-Mousa, Ahmed and Alcorn, Jane and Pereira, Alberto S and Martin, Jonathan W and Giesy, John P and Wiseman, Steve B
Journal: Aquatic Toxicology (2016): 81--88

References

View all 84 references: Citation Explorer
Functional evidence that the self-renewal gene NANOG regulates esophageal squamous cancer development
Authors: Li, Deng and Xiang, Xiaocong and Yang, Fei and Xiao, Dongqin and Liu, Kang and Chen, Zhu and Zhang, Ruolan and Feng, Gang
Journal: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (2017)
Localized functional chemical stimulation of TE 671 cells cultured on nanoporous membrane by calcein and acetylcholine
Authors: Zibek S, Stett A, Koltay P, Hu M, Zengerle R, Nisch W, Stelzle M.
Journal: Biophys J. (2006)
A vaccination and challenge model using calcein marked fish
Authors: Klesius PH, Evans JJ, Shoemaker CA, Pasnik DJ.
Journal: Fish Shellfish Immunol (2006): 20
Novel fluorescence assay using calcein-AM for the determination of human erythrocyte viability and aging
Authors: Bratosin D, Mitrofan L, Palii C, Estaquier J, Montreuil J.
Journal: Cytometry A (2005): 78
Cytotoxic effects of 100 reference compounds on Hep G2 and HeLa cells and of 60 compounds on ECC-1 and CHO cells. I mechanistic assays on ROS, glutathione depletion and calcein uptake
Authors: Schoonen WG, Westerink WM, de Roos JA, Debiton E.
Journal: Toxicol In Vitro (2005): 505
Page updated on October 8, 2024

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Physical properties

Molecular weight

465.41

Solvent

DMSO

Spectral properties

Excitation (nm)

354

Emission (nm)

441

Storage, safety and handling

H-phraseH303, H313, H333
Hazard symbolXN
Intended useResearch Use Only (RUO)
R-phraseR20, R21, R22

Storage

Freeze (< -15 °C); Minimize light exposure
UNSPSC12352200

CAS

168482-84-6

Platform

Flow cytometer

Excitation350 nm or 405 nm laser
Emission450, 40 nm filter
Instrument specification(s)Pacific Blue channel

Fluorescence microscope

ExcitationDAPI filter set
EmissionDAPI filter set
Recommended plateBlack wall, clear bottom

Fluorescence microplate reader

Excitation360
Emission450
Cutoff420
Recommended plateBlack wall, clear bottom
Instrument specification(s)Bottom read mode