Agarose, low gelling temperature (CAS 39346-81-1)

Agarose, particularly in its low gelling temperature form, is a widely used polysaccharide in various research applications, particularly in molecular biology and biotechnology. Its mechanism of action stems from its unique ability to form a gel matrix when cooled after being dissolved in a hot aqueous solution. This gel matrix is highly porous, providing an ideal support structure for the separation of biomolecules based on size through techniques such as gel electrophoresis and gel chromatography. In research, agarose gels are extensively utilized for the separation and analysis of nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA fragments, due to their ability to resolve different-sized fragments with high resolution. Moreover, agarose matrices are employed in the immobilization of enzymes and other biomolecules for various biotechnological applications, such as enzyme immobilization, protein purification, and cell culture. Furthermore, the low gelling temperature agarose variant offers the advantage of being able to form gels at lower temperatures, allowing for the incorporation of thermolabile substances or temperature-sensitive biomolecules without denaturation. Additionally, agarose-based materials are being explored in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine for the development of scaffolds and matrices to support cell growth and tissue formation. The versatility and biocompatibility of agarose make it a cornerstone material in research across numerous scientific disciplines.