N-(3-Sulfopropyl)-4-(4-didecylaminostyryl)pyridinium, inner salt | CAS 70808-63-5

N-(3-Sulfopropyl)-4-(4-didecylaminostyryl)pyridinium, inner salt is a styryl pyridinium fluorescent dye designed for strong membrane-associated fluorescence and bright labeling in aqueous imaging buffers. Its delocalized, conjugated chromophore supports vivid emission for fluorescence microscopy workflows, while the sulfonate-containing substituent improves water compatibility and enables practical staining of lipid-rich environments. In typical research use, this dye is incorporated into staining protocols to visualize membrane structures, track membrane dynamics, and support fluorescence-based characterization of membrane-containing samples.

1. Membrane Staining Microscopy

N-(3-Sulfopropyl)-4-(4-didecylaminostyryl)pyridinium, inner salt is used as a fluorescence microscopy stain to label lipid-rich membranes in fixed cells, membrane preparations, and model membrane systems. Researchers commonly apply it in imaging workflows where membrane localization is required to distinguish cellular boundaries, membrane compartments, or vesicular structures from the surrounding aqueous background. The dye's conjugated styryl-pyridinium scaffold provides robust fluorescence for visual readout, while the sulfonate functionality supports practical handling in buffered imaging media.

2. Vesicle And Liposome Labeling

N-(3-Sulfopropyl)-4-(4-didecylaminostyryl)pyridinium, inner salt is frequently employed to fluorescently label extracellular vesicles, liposomes, and other membrane vesicle preparations for downstream characterization. In membrane trafficking and biomaterials research, the dye helps visualize vesicle-associated fluorescence signals during qualitative imaging and can be used to support comparative studies of vesicle labeling efficiency across formulation conditions. The dye's amphiphilic character promotes association with lipid bilayers, making it a convenient reagent for membrane-centric labeling experiments.

3. Fluorescence-Based Membrane Assays

N-(3-Sulfopropyl)-4-(4-didecylaminostyryl)pyridinium, inner salt is applied in fluorescence assay development where membrane integrity, membrane binding, or membrane-associated signal changes are monitored using a dye readout. Bioconjugation and chemical biology groups often incorporate the dye into assay formats that quantify fluorescence changes in membrane-containing samples, such as vesicle stability studies or membrane interaction screening with small molecules, polymers, or biomolecular conjugates. The dye's strong membrane fluorescence supports straightforward plate-based or cuvette-based fluorescence measurements using standard excitation/emission optics.

4. Flow Cytometry Membrane Readout

N-(3-Sulfopropyl)-4-(4-didecylaminostyryl)pyridinium, inner salt is also used as a membrane-associated fluorescence reagent in flow cytometry workflows that require discrimination based on membrane labeling intensity. Researchers use it to generate fluorescence signals that reflect membrane-associated dye uptake or retention in heterogeneous cell populations, supporting membrane-focused phenotyping and sorting strategies in research settings. Its water-compatible sulfonate substituent supports incorporation into buffered staining protocols, enabling consistent preparation for instrument acquisition.