Merck, P3813-5X10PAK, Phosphate buffered saline

Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) stands as a cornerstone in biological research due to its versatility and essential properties. One primary attribute is its isotonicity, closely resembling the pH, osmolarity, and ion concentrations of the human body. This makes PBS non-toxic to cells, playing a pivotal role in cell biology procedures such as washing cells, transporting tissues, and diluting cells and reagents. These applications ensure the preservation of cell viability and the maintenance of a physiological environment. The buffering capacity of PBS, maintained through a phosphate-phosphoric acid equilibrium, provides a stable pH environment crucial for optimal enzyme activity and various biological processes. This makes PBS ideal for preparing reagents, protein dialysis, and immunohistochemistry, ensuring consistent and reliable results in experiments. Beyond cell biology, PBS may also find applications in diverse areas, including the creation of custom ELISA buffers to ensure optimal antibody-antigen interactions. Additionally, PBS can serve as a running buffer for Protein A/G chromatography, facilitating antibody purification based on specific antigen binding. In hematological and biochemical procedures, PBS is widely used for washing cells and tissues. In summary, PBS emerges as an indispensable tool in both biological and biochemical research, offering isotonicity, buffering capacity, simplicity, and stability. Its diverse applications in cell biology, reagent preparation, protein purification, and various biological assays underscore its significance in advancing scientific knowledge and understanding.