I am doing an assay in which Dextran molecules are dissolved in cell culture media (Endothelium growth media - Plus) and the project is being conducted within a BSL3 lab. In order to remove things from the BSL 3 lab, they have to undergo 1 of 3 inactivation processes (Chemical, UV-inactivation, or Heat inactivation). I am reading my dextran molecules via fluorescence so UV will likely ruin the dextran molecules, and heat inactivation is also likely to ruin the dextran fluorescence.
My question: Is there a viral/BS3 chemical inactivation technique that will leave my dextran molecules intact? Formalin? Paraformaldehyde? Methanol?
Dextran itself is not fluorescent, at least when pure. Are you using fluorescently labeled dextran? Of the 3 methods, my preference would be for UV, unless the dextran is fluorescently labeled.
Is it really necessary to remove the dextran from the BSL-3 lab? What if you put just the amount needed into the medium before it goes into the lab, then discard any unused medium?
Adam B Shapiro The dextran is fluorescently labeled. Sorry if that was unclear.
I need to take the media out of the lab because I am analyzing the media itself after the experiment. We use a plate reader located in our normal lab space.
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