I want to find out whether it is best to aliquot DMSO 1 ml each in eppendorf tubes and keep in -20'C so that this minimizes contamination since we used just 10% for each cryo tube. I have been doing this way and no issue at all. Recently, someone told me it is better just to keep in its original bottle as it was and leave it room temperature. Then it is to take up the required amt from the bottle as and when we need. Which way will be best in terms of minimizing contamination and as well as maintaining its original DMSO properties. Appreciate sharing your experience. Thanks.
In our lab, we keep the original bottel in R.T, just we have to becareful of contamination when we take small amt from it...
In our lab, we keep the original bottel in R.T, just we have to becareful of contamination when we take small amt from it...
Hi MC,
DMSO is a very stable substance and can safely be stored in its original container, which is a brown bottle. That means all you have to worry about is exposure to direct light i.e. avoid exposing it to light while stored as this may lead to its gradual deterioration and quicker expiry - you don't want that to happen? It rarely gets contaminated so you don't have to worry about that as well.
However consider some of its characteristics below to help you store it appropriately:
1. DMSO supercools easily and remelts slowly at room temperature. This means if you aliquot and store it frozen, you will have to deal with its slow liquefaction and end up wasting more valuable time in the lab. It may, therefore, arrive as a solid
instead of a liquid when bought in a cold condition. The solidified product can be
reliquified by warming to room temperature without damage.
2. It is stable up to 100 °C in any pH conditions but at temperatures approaching its boiling point, it prefers neutral or alkaline pH conditions. This means you store it at room temperature of any range in earth without problem and avoid heating it. The manufacturers recommend keeping it in a cool place (usually anything between 10 to 30 °C).
3. Keep it away from sources of ignition as it is combustible i.e. if exposed to fire, it will melt and burn.
4. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. This is to avoid instances of exposure to contaminants and conditions of deterioration. If you can afford, store it under inert gas; DMSO is hygroscopic and therefore will attract air into itself, losing its worth with time. This is an important property of this substance, the reason you need to keep its container tightly closed.
In our lab, we keep it in its original container away from light and observe its expiry dates. If your consumption is low, there are versions of its packages sold as ampoules which have the same range of shelf life as their counterparts in bottles - go for those instead. I wouldn't recommend freezing (look closely to its properties).
I hope those points answer your question. If you need further clarification, feel free to contact me; I will help where possible.
Cheers and good luck.
Mike
Ali and Mike, Thank your very much for sharing your practice and knowledge. Appreciate it.
Are there people practicing different other ways? Appreciate to hear. Thanks. For me, I still prefer just to aliquot the amount that you may need for your research project. Keep my stock 1 ml each in eppendorf tubes and store those in refrigerators, either in 4'C or whatever RT available spaces. For me, this is better way to do so bc in our lab, one stock bot of DMSO can be shared by many users. Although bact or virus cannot grow in DMSO, might contaminate with other chemicals or might have been oxidized frequently. I may keep it in its own bot and in room temp if the stock is just for me and no one can access it. By the way, with regard to this issue, I was surfing some info further and happy to share here with others too. See the link below.
http://www.protocol-online.org/biology-forums-2/posts/22629.html
http://www.alternative-medicine-digest.com/dmso.html
http://www.dmso.net/docs/DMSO-MSDS.pdf
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-874-dmso%20(dimethylsulfoxide).aspx?activeingredientid=874&activeingredientname=dmso%20(dimethylsulfoxide)
DMSO is hot and it produces heat. This is why it was approved to use as liniment, especially for animals. May be in human in near future? However, DMSO can easily become solid in air condition temperature from 18'C (Melting point) and below. DMSO has very high boiling temp, 185'C at which it will decompose. It is light sensitive. It can react with plastic containers as well as some membrane filters.
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