CFDA-SE, 10mg

This cell-permeable fluorescent dye from STEMCELL Technologies, also known as CFSE or carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester; CAS 150347-59-4; molecular formula C₂₉H₁₉NO₁₁; molecular weight 557.5 g/mol), serves as a stable diacetate precursor to CFSE. Upon diffusion into cells, intracellular esterases cleave the acetate groups, and the resulting CFSE reacts with cellular amines via its succinimidyl groups to generate a highly fluorescent green dye that is impermeant to the cell membrane. Because the dye partitions approximately equally between progeny cells, cell division can be followed as a successive halving of fluorescence intensity through multiple generational divisions. It is widely used for cell proliferation assays, motility assays, and in vivo cell tracking, with the esterase-cleaved derivative exhibiting excitation at 492 nm and emission at 517 nm for detection with any fluorescein-compatible instrument or filter set.

Supplied as a crystalline solid, the product is stored at -20°C and should be protected from prolonged exposure to light; it remains stable until the expiry date on the label. For stock preparation, CFDA-SE is soluble in DMSO at concentrations up to 20 mg/mL and in dimethyl formamide at up to 30 mg/mL, and is sparingly soluble in aqueous buffers. For in vitro cell proliferation assays by flow cytometry, a final working concentration of 0.5 - 10 µM is recommended. Verified applications include functional assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy; reported applications extend to histochemistry, immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence microscopy, and in vivo cell tracking. Per the safety data sheet, the compound causes skin irritation, serious eye irritation, and may cause respiratory irritation, requiring appropriate protective equipment during handling.