IRDye® 800CW DBCO

IRDye® 800CW DBCO is a DBCO-functionalized near-infrared fluorophore designed for copper-free click chemistry labeling of biomolecules and materials. Its IRDye 800CW dye provides an NIR fluorescence readout that is widely used in fluorescence imaging workflows where reduced background and deep-tissue signal collection are advantageous. The DBCO handle enables efficient conjugation to azide-bearing targets, supporting the construction of fluorescent conjugates for imaging, quantification, and assay development.

1. Biomolecule Click Labeling

IRDye® 800CW DBCO is used by chemical biology and imaging groups to fluorescently label proteins, peptides, and other azide-functional biomolecules via strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition. Researchers commonly prepare IRDye 800CW-conjugated antibodies, antibody fragments, ligands, or affinity reagents by first introducing azide groups onto the biomolecule and then coupling with this DBCO reagent to generate stable fluorescent probes for downstream imaging and quantitative fluorescence readouts.

2. In Vivo Imaging Conjugates

IRDye® 800CW DBCO is frequently employed in NIR fluorescence imaging reagent development where conjugate brightness and low autofluorescence background are important for visualization. By coupling the DBCO dye to azide-tagged targeting molecules, teams create fluorescent imaging conjugates for whole-animal imaging studies and biodistribution-style experiments, supporting workflow standardization for optical imaging systems that detect the IRDye 800CW spectral window.

3. Flow Cytometry and Cell Labeling

IRDye® 800CW DBCO supports fluorescence labeling workflows in cell biology laboratories that use NIR-capable cytometers or imaging flow cytometry platforms. In these applications, azide-functional cell-surface markers or azide-tagged targeting reagents are conjugated with the DBCO dye to generate NIR fluorescence signals for quantifying binding, monitoring marker expression, and comparing labeled populations across experimental conditions.

4. Biomaterial Surface Functionalization

IRDye® 800CW DBCO is also used to fluorescently tag azide-functional biomaterials and surfaces for materials characterization and imaging-guided development. Researchers incorporate the dye into hydrogels, polymer coatings, and other azide-bearing substrates to visualize distribution, coating uniformity, and surface accessibility using NIR fluorescence microscopy or optical imaging, enabling rapid assessment of surface functionalization outcomes in biomaterials R&D pipelines.