Calcein
Based on 13 publication(s) in Google Scholar
Calcein is a fluorescent dye and self-quenching probe, used as an indicator of lipid vesicle leakage, and also as a complexometric indicator for titration of calcium ions with EDTA, and for fluorometric determination of calcium. Calcein cannot directly cross the intact cell membrane of a living cell, unlike Calcein-AM (HY-D0041) which is cell-permeable. Calcein can also be used as a model drug for evaluating efficiency and bioavailability of drug delivery systems.
For research use only. We do not sell to patients.
- CAS No.: 1461-15-0
- Formula: C30H26N2O13
- Molecular Weight:622.53
-
Storage:
4°C, protect from light
* In solvent : -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (protect from light)
-
Biological Activity
-
Chemical Information
-
Solvent & Solubility
- Protocol
- Purity & Documentation
- References
-
Help & FAQs
Publications Citing Use of MedChemExpress (MCE) Calcein
More- Adv Mater. 2023 Jun;35(23):e2300548. [Abstract]
- Redox Biol. 2025 Oct:86:103804. [Abstract]
- Research (Wash D C). 2025 Jul 22:8:0784. [Abstract]
- Mater Today Bio. 2026 Mar 2:37:102992. [Abstract]
- Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 May 18;10(5):798. [Abstract]
- J Environ Sci. 2025 Nov 4.
- Drug Des Devel Ther. 2022 Nov 15:16:3929-3946. [Abstract]
- Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2024 Jul 5:107268. [Abstract]
- ACS Synth Biol. 2025 Sep 19;14(9):3767-3783. [Abstract]
- Biomed Mater. 2025 Sep 25. [Abstract]
- Bone. 2026 Jun:207:117859. [Abstract]
- Int J Adv Manuf Technol. 17 January 2022.
- SSRN. 2025 Nov 7.
Customer Validation & Images
-
In Vivo Efficacy Study
-
In Vivo Efficacy Study
-
Histological Imaging/Staining
-
Cell Imaging/Staining
-
Flow Cytometry
Biological Activity
Calcein is a fluorescent probe that emits yellow-green fluorescence and can be used to determine the labile iron pool as well as to measure the binding affinity of Fe(III) with ligands[3].
Guide (The following is our recommended experimental protocol. This protocol is for reference only and should be modified according to your specific needs).
1. Solution preparation[3]
1.1 Preparation of stock solution
Solvent: 1 M NaOH
Concentration: 0.5 mM (optimize according to the experiment).
Storage: Aliquot and store at -20°C or -80°C protected from light. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
1.2 Preparation of working solution
Dilute to 0.5 μM with PBS or cell culture medium.
Note: The working solution should be freshly prepared, used immediately, and protected from light.
2. Cell staining
2.1 Incubate cells (106/mL) with 20 μM Fe(II) at 37°C for 2 h.
2.2 Collect cells by centrifugation (1000 rpm; 5 min), and stain by directly microinjecting Calcein (0.5 μM) into the cells (5-15 min).
2.3 Wash cells twice with D'hanks buffer (pH 7.4).
2.4 Monitor fluorescence using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy.
MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.
515
489
Chemical Information
-
CAS No. 1461-15-0
-
Appearance Solid
-
Molecular Weight 622.53
-
Formula C30H26N2O13
-
Color Yellow to orange
-
SMILES
O=C1OC2(C3=C(OC4=C2C=C(CN(CC(O)=O)CC(O)=O)C(O)=C4)C=C(O)C(CN(CC(O)=O)CC(O)=O)=C3)C5=C1C=CC=C5
-
Synonyms
Fluorexon
-
Shipping
Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.
-
Storage
4°C, protect from light
* In solvent : -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (protect from light)
Publications (13)
-
Journal Impact Factor
-
Most Recent
-
Adv Mater
Impairing Tumor Metabolic Plasticity via a Stable Metal-Phenolic-Based Polymeric Nanomedicine to Suppress Colorectal Cancer. [Abstract]2023 Jun;35(23):e2300548. PMID: 36917817
Calcein purchased from MedChemExpress. Usage Cited in: Adv Mater. 2023 Jun;35(23):e2300548. [Abstract]
Cellular uptake of calcein by CT26 cells pretreated with EGCG, free DOX, Mal-DOX, NP, and pOEG-b-D-SH@NP for 5 h, respectively. Images for the Calcein fluorescence channel are shown in the inset boxes.
Calcein purchased from MedChemExpress. Usage Cited in: Adv Mater. 2023 Jun;35(23):e2300548. [Abstract]
Fluorescence signals of Calcein in CT26 cells were recorded by flow cytometry.
-
Redox Biol
Nrf2/Nlrp3 signaling in aging BMSCs: Traf6 intervention as a novel approach to osteoporosis treatment. [Abstract]2025 Oct:86:103804. PMID: 40768898
Calcein purchased from MedChemExpress. Usage Cited in: Redox Biol. 2025 Oct:86:103804. [Abstract]
Calcein fluorescence labeling showed a significantly lower rate of calcium salt deposition in the distal femur of 18Ms mice than in 3Ms mice. Five mice in each group were intraperitoneally injected with Calcein (10 mg/kg, ip) 10 days and 3 days before material extraction.
Calcein purchased from MedChemExpress. Usage Cited in: Redox Biol. 2025 Oct:86:103804. [Abstract]
Five mice in each group were intraperitoneally injected with Calcein (10 mg/kg, ip) 10 days and 3 days before material extraction. Two calcium salt deposition lines were observed after non decalcified hard tissue sections, and the calcium salt deposition rate of the four groups of patients was measured and analyzed.
-
Research (Wash D C)
Visomitin Attenuates Pathological Bone Loss by Reprogramming Osteoclast Metabolism via the STAT3/LDHB Axis. [Abstract]2025 Jul 22:8:0784. PMID: 40698330
Calcein purchased from MedChemExpress. Usage Cited in: Research (Wash D C). 2025 Jul 22:8:0784. [Abstract]
Representative images of Calcein double labeling in murine femur sections from designated groups; Scale bars, 20μm.
-
Mater Today Bio
Chitosan-based hydrogel facilitates DC-SIGN-mediated monocyte-to-dendritic cell transformation in vivo for antigen-specific antitumor therapy. [Abstract]2026 Mar 2:37:102992. PMID: 41852886 -
Antioxidants (Basel)
Caffeic Acid Phenyl Ester (CAPE) Protects against Iron-Mediated Cellular DNA Damage through Its Strong Iron-Binding Ability and High Lipophilicity. [Abstract]2021 May 18;10(5):798. PMID: 34069954 -
-
Drug Des Devel Ther
ED-71 Prevents Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis by Regulating Osteoblast Differentiation via Notch and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways. [Abstract]2022 Nov 15:16:3929-3946. PMID: 36411860
Calcein purchased from MedChemExpress. Usage Cited in: Drug Des Devel Ther. 2022 Nov 15:16:3929-3946. [Abstract]
Calcein and tetracycline labeling of mice femur at 8 weeks. The red arrow indicates the distance between calcein and tetracycline fluorescence labeling.
-
Int J Antimicrob Agents
Development of an effective meropenem/KPC-2 inhibitor combination to combat infections caused by carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae. [Abstract]2024 Jul 5:107268. PMID: 38972552 -
ACS Synth Biol
Signal Peptide-Guided Delivery of a Mucin-Like Collagen Analogue for Periplasmic Barrier Reinforcement: A Platform for Enhancing Microbial Survival. [Abstract]2025 Sep 19;14(9):3767-3783. PMID: 40924575 -
Biomed Mater
Stem cell membrane-coated rough mesoporous silica nanoparticles for enhanced osteogenic differentiation and bone repair via dexamethasone delivery. [Abstract]2025 Sep 25. PMID: 40997881 -
Bone
Sympathetic overactivity-induced type H endothelial cell senescence contributes to the impairment of vascularized osteogenesis by PKM2-mediated glycolysis in preclinical stages of Alzheimer's mice. [Abstract]2026 Jun:207:117859. PMID: 41833832 -
-
Solvent & Solubility
1M NaOH : 50 mg/mL (80.32 mM; Need ultrasonic)
H2O : 5.65 mg/mL (9.08 mM; ultrasonic and warming and adjust pH to 8 with 1 M NaOH and heat to 60°C)
DMSO : 2 mg/mL (3.21 mM; Need ultrasonic; Hygroscopic DMSO has a significant impact on the solubility of product, please use newly opened DMSO)
Please refer to the solubility information to select the appropriate solvent. Once prepared, please aliquot and store the solution to prevent product inactivation from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Storage method and period of stock solution: -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (protect from light). When stored at -80°C, please use it within 6 months. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 month.
* Note: If you choose water as the stock solution, please dilute it to the working solution, then filter and sterilize it with a 0.22 μm filter before use.
Please refer to the solubility information to select the appropriate solvent. Once prepared, please aliquot and store the solution to prevent product inactivation from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Storage method and period of stock solution: -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (protect from light). When stored at -80°C, please use it within 6 months. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 month.
* Note: If you choose water as the stock solution, please dilute it to the working solution, then filter and sterilize it with a 0.22 μm filter before use.
Concentration (start) × Volume (start) = Concentration (final) × Volume (final)
Protocol
Coelomocytes suspensions (ISO and CF) are separately incubated with calcein-AM (excitation and emission wavelength: 496 nm and 516 nm, respectively) at a final concentration of 200 nM, during 30 min, at 26°C. Calcein-AM is a nonfluorescent ABC transporter substrate whose intracellular accumulation is inversely proportional to ABC transporter activity. Intracellular esterases convert calcein-AM into the fluorescent dye calcein, which is not an ABC transporter substrate, thereby accumulating the dye inside the cell. Therefore, a high fluorescence signal indicates low ABC transporter activity whereas a low fluorescence signal indicates high activity. The fluorescence of samples is measured by flow cytometer. The experiment is repeated six times in duplicates.
MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only.
Purity & Documentation
-
Data Sheet (281 KB)
-
SDS (393 KB)
- English - EN (393 KB)
- Français - FR (393 KB)
- Deutsch - DE (393 KB)
- Norwegian - NO (393 KB)
- Español - ES (393 KB)
- Swedish - SV (393 KB)
- Italian - IT (393 KB)
- Portuguese - PT (393 KB)
-
Handling Instructions (2659 KB)
References
[1]. Marques-Santos LF, et al. ABCB1 and ABCC1-like transporters in immune system cells from sea urchins Echinometra lucunter and Echinus esculentus and oysters Crassostrea gasar and Crassostrea gigas. Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2017 Sep 5;70:195-203. [Content Brief]
[2]. Maherani B, et al., Calcein release behavior from liposomal bilayer; influence of physicochemical/mechanical/structural properties of lipids. Biochimie. 2013 Nov;95(11):2018-33. [Content Brief]
[3]. Shao B, et al. Caffeic Acid Phenyl Ester (CAPE) Protects against Iron-Mediated Cellular DNA Damage through Its Strong Iron-Binding Ability and High Lipophilicity. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 May 18;10(5):798. [Content Brief]
Complete Stock Solution Preparation Table
Please refer to the solubility information to select the appropriate solvent. Once prepared, please aliquot and store the solution to prevent product inactivation from repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Storage method and period of stock solution: -80°C, 6 months; -20°C, 1 month (protect from light). When stored at -80°C, please use it within 6 months. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 month.
| Optional Solvent | Concentration Solvent Mass | 1 mg | 5 mg | 10 mg | 25 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMSO / H2O / 1M NaOH | 1 mM | 1.6063 mL | 8.0317 mL | 16.0635 mL | 40.1587 mL |
| H2O / 1M NaOH | 5 mM | 0.3213 mL | 1.6063 mL | 3.2127 mL | 8.0317 mL |
| 1M NaOH | 10 mM | 0.1606 mL | 0.8032 mL | 1.6063 mL | 4.0159 mL |
| 15 mM | 0.1071 mL | 0.5354 mL | 1.0709 mL | 2.6772 mL | |
| 20 mM | 0.0803 mL | 0.4016 mL | 0.8032 mL | 2.0079 mL | |
| 25 mM | 0.0643 mL | 0.3213 mL | 0.6425 mL | 1.6063 mL | |
| 30 mM | 0.0535 mL | 0.2677 mL | 0.5354 mL | 1.3386 mL | |
| 40 mM | 0.0402 mL | 0.2008 mL | 0.4016 mL | 1.0040 mL | |
| 50 mM | 0.0321 mL | 0.1606 mL | 0.3213 mL | 0.8032 mL | |
| 60 mM | 0.0268 mL | 0.1339 mL | 0.2677 mL | 0.6693 mL | |
| 80 mM | 0.0201 mL | 0.1004 mL | 0.2008 mL | 0.5020 mL |
* Note: If you choose water as the stock solution, please dilute it to the working solution, then filter and sterilize it with a 0.22 μm filter before use.
Powered by Bioz