I would like to test cytotoxicity of a certain compound, but it is only soluble in DMSO. I know that DMSO has a toxic effect on cancer cell lines. However, maybe someone of you were using DMSO concentration, which by itself does not affect cell viability? I wolud be grateful for any tips.
When it comes to DMSO in tumor cell lines, my experience also is that less than 0.1% concentration is usually non-influential. If higher DMSO concentrations are unavoidable due to poor compound solubility and/or high required compound concentrations, alternative solvents (e.g methylcellulose) may be an option.
Dear Paulina,
The sensitivity to DMSO can vary on two log magnitudes between various cell lines (normal and cancerous).
Usually, it is better not to go higher than 0.1% DMSO (with two controls: the first one without drug and without 0.1% DMSO) and the second one without drug and with 0.1%DMSO).
If your compound cannot be dissolved in a final 0.1% (vol / vol medium) DMSO concentration, you should perform a "growth inhibitory assay" (what you name "cytotoxicity") with DMSO ("against" a control without any DMSO) with each of your cell lines of interest. You will thus have the precise response for each of your cell line.
Best regards
Robert
What you can do also is to try to dissolve your DMSO-dissolved drug in PBS/H2O to reduce the concentration of DMSO itself, for example from 100% to 50-40% (or even more). Then you can use this new stock to treat your cells according with working concentration.
Hello paulina
in drug discovery assays I have undertaken I try not to let my DMSO rise above 1% final concentration
Regarding drug solubility it is true that certain compounds will not dissolve readily in DMSO. It's all about polarity. Sometimes in these situations mixtures of water and DMSO in my experience can denature the compound and actually cause more to precipitate. But it is entirely dependent on the compound in question. In these instances I have heard of people using 50/50 mixtures of DMSO and ethanol instead of diluting down DMSO with water or aqueous based media
I would like to thank you for all the tips and advice! Certainly will be helpful.
Dear Paulina,
It is usually recommended not to exceed the 0.1% DMSO.
Regards,
Sweilem
Hello,
Up to 0.3% fine, even you can use 0.5% but its not recommended
When it comes to DMSO in tumor cell lines, my experience also is that less than 0.1% concentration is usually non-influential. If higher DMSO concentrations are unavoidable due to poor compound solubility and/or high required compound concentrations, alternative solvents (e.g methylcellulose) may be an option.
Dear Paulina,
we usually use more concentration of a tested compounds solved in DMSO. Usually the highest concentration of DMSO in medium is 0.3%. The highest applied concentration of DMSO that we ever used is 0.6%. These concentrations of DMSO didn't cause problem. I think you can use 0.5 % and lower cc of DMSO without problems.
Best Regards
András
as Robert kiss explain. That's all depend on your cells. Better you should to optimize it. As the others, I recommend below 0.1%
good luck
Many cell lines (immortal if not malignant) will tolerate much more than 0.1% DMSO. For example, OECD genetic toxicity test guidelines (473, 487, etc) recommend no more than 1% final concentration of organic solvents (including DMSO) and I have occasionally used 2% without noticeable inhibition on growth. Of course, duration of exposure may also have an impact. One word of caution, whilst relatively stable, DMSO may oxidize on storage after opening and the oxidation products may be toxic and even mutagenic, so be sure to know the history of the DMSO bottle before you use it.
I totally agree with peter jenkinson. I also used upto 2% of DMSO without, or few, cytotoxic effects.
I know this answer is comming late. However, if somebody else is reading it. We always just do a vitality test with our cell lines, to find a no effect concentration of DMSO for our cell line. It is quickly done (within three days) and then we are sure how to proceed...
What is the ideal DMSO concentration to solubilize lipids? I will use it in whole blood culture. What is the concentration so that it does not affect the cells?
They are apolar lipids
- Badges
- Science topic