Sulfo-Cyanine5.5 alkyne

Sulfo-Cyanine5.5 alkyne is a sulfonated cyanine dye bearing a terminal alkyne for copper-free click chemistry labeling of biomolecules and materials. Its water-soluble, near-infrared fluorescence enables sensitive visualization in fluorescence imaging workflows, while the alkyne handle supports site-specific conjugation to azide-functional partners used in chemical biology and assay development.

1. Biomolecule Click Labeling

Sulfo-Cyanine5.5 alkyne is used by chemical biology and glycobiology groups to fluorescently label proteins, peptides, and other azide-bearing biomolecules through click-compatible conjugation strategies. The sulfonated cyanine format helps maintain aqueous handling for labeling reactions performed in buffered biological media, and the near-infrared emission is commonly leveraged to reduce background in fluorescence imaging experiments. Researchers incorporate this dye into labeled reagents for tracking binding interactions, monitoring conjugate formation, and generating fluorescent standards for downstream microscopy or plate-based readouts.

2. Fluorescence Imaging Probes

Sulfo-Cyanine5.5 alkyne is frequently incorporated into imaging probe development where near-infrared fluorescence is preferred for deep-tissue or low-autofluorescence imaging contexts in research settings. By attaching the dye to azide-functional targeting ligands, polymers, or nanoparticles, teams create conjugates for cellular imaging, uptake studies, and localization experiments using standard fluorescence imaging platforms equipped for cyanine5.5 spectral detection. The alkyne functionality enables modular probe construction, allowing rapid exchange of targeting components while keeping the fluorophore constant for consistent imaging comparisons across experiments.

3. Biomaterial And Surface Functionalization

Sulfo-Cyanine5.5 alkyne is applied in biomaterials research to fluorescently tag azide-functional hydrogels, coatings, and surface-modified scaffolds for material characterization and spatial mapping. Materials scientists use the dye to visualize polymer distribution, diffusion, and surface coverage in engineered constructs, supporting workflows such as microscopy-based assessment of labeled scaffolds and fluorescence readouts during material optimization. The water-soluble sulfonate group supports dye incorporation into aqueous processing steps, and the click-compatible alkyne handle supports reproducible functionalization of azide-present surfaces without requiring extensive fluorophore handling.

4. Flow Cytometry Labeling

Sulfo-Cyanine5.5 alkyne is used by cell biology and assay development teams to prepare fluorescently labeled conjugates for flow cytometry when near-infrared channel detection is available. Researchers typically generate azide-functional antibodies, ligands, or affinity reagents and then attach the cyanine5.5 fluorophore via click chemistry to create stable staining reagents for labeling cell-surface markers or tracking binding events. This approach supports multiplex-friendly experimental design where the dye's spectral properties can be separated from common visible fluorophores, enabling quantitative comparisons of labeled populations across experimental conditions.