DMDM hydantoin
DMDM hydantoin (Dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin) is a hydantoin-derived formaldehyde-releasing preservative and allergen. DMDM hydantoin releases formaldehyde via hydrolysis in water, including under physiological pH conditions, and the release amount is affected by pH, concentration, composition, temperature and storage duration. DMDM hydantoin exerts bactericidal effects by mediating the cross-linking of proteins, RNA and DNA through the released formaldehyde, thereby inhibiting metabolism and cell division. DMDM hydantoin can induce allergic contact dermatitis directly, via the released formaldehyde, or through both pathways simultaneously. DMDM hydantoin is skin-irritating, and the released formaldehyde brings toxicological risks including carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and reproductive toxicity after entering the body. DMDM hydantoin can be used in studies related to allergic contact dermatitis.
For research use only. We do not sell to patients.
- CAS No.: 6440-58-0
- Formula: C7H12N2O4
- Molecular Weight:188.18
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Storage:
Store at room temperature 3 years.
In solvent -80°C, 2 years , -20°C, 1 year
Biological Activity
Description
In Vitro
DMDM hydantoin (0.1-0.8%; 23°C) in non-protein shampoo releases 108-505 p.p.m. free formaldehyde at 23°C, with the percentage of theoretical releasable formaldehyde decreasing as DMDM hydantoin concentration increases[2].
MedChemExpress (MCE) has not independently confirmed the accuracy of these methods. They are for reference only. Further protocols information, click here.
Chemical Information
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CAS No. 6440-58-0
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Appearance Solid
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Molecular Weight 188.18
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Formula C7H12N2O4
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Color White to off-white
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SMILES
O=C1N(C(=O)C(N1CO)(C)C)CO
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Synonyms
Dimethyloldimethyl hydantoin
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Shipping
Room temperature in continental US; may vary elsewhere.
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Storage
Store at room temperature 3 years
In solvent -80°C 2 years -20°C 1 year
Solvent & Solubility
In Vitro:
DMSO : 100 mg/mL (531.41 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, 2 years; -20°C, 1 year. When stored at -80°C, please use it within 2 years. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 year.
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, 2 years; -20°C, 1 year. When stored at -80°C, please use it within 2 years. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 year.
Concentration (start) × Volume (start) = Concentration (final) × Volume (final)
Protocols
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Carcinogenicity Bioassay
A carcinogenicity bioassay detects whether long-term exposure to a test substance increases benign or malignant tumor incidence, changes tumor spectrum, or shortens tumor latency in experimental animals; the classical rodent design exposes rats and/or mice to multiple dose levels for most of their lifespan, followed by complete necropsy and histopathologic diagnosis of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. The readout is tumor incidence by organ, sex, species, dose group, and survival status; interpretation requires concurrent controls, dose-response assessment, survival-adjusted tumor statistics, and pathology review because mortality, spontaneous tumor background, and body-weight effects can influence apparent tumor rates.
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Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity Study
Reproductive and developmental toxicity studies detect adverse effects of prenatal or peri/postnatal exposure on maternal condition, pregnancy maintenance, embryo-fetal survival, fetal growth, structural development, and offspring reproductive or developmental endpoints; classic rat protocols generate readouts by comparing treated groups with vehicle, pair-fed, or untreated controls for implantation, resorption, fetal weight, crown-rump length, external morphology, visceral morphology, skeletal ossification, anogenital distance, nipple/areola retention, and postnatal cohort outcomes.
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TPA/Croton Oil Ear Edema and Dermatitis
The TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) and croton oil-induced mouse ear edema model is a well-established acute cutaneous inflammation system used to evaluate topical anti-inflammatory activity by measuring edema formation, neutrophil infiltration, vascular permeability, and cytokine-mediated skin responses in vivo. The inflammatory response is triggered by topical application of phorbol esters (TPA) or croton oil constituents, leading to rapid activation of protein kinase C signaling, leukocyte recruitment, and increased vascular permeability, which can be quantified by ear thickness, weight, dye extravasation, and biochemical markers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and pro-inflammatory mediators in ear tissue homogenates. This model is widely used for screening anti-inflammatory agents, where reductions in edema and inflammatory biomarkers reflect suppression of acute dermal inflammation and immune cell infiltration. Histological evaluation typically confirms epidermal
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CFSE Dye Dilution Proliferation Assay
The CFSE (carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester) dye dilution proliferation assay is based on the covalent labeling of intracellular proteins by a cell-permeant fluorescent dye that becomes fluorescent upon intracellular ester cleavage and then is stably retained within cells. As labeled cells divide, the dye is partitioned equally between daughter cells, resulting in a stepwise halving of fluorescence intensity that can be quantified by flow cytometry to determine the number of cell divisions undergone by each cell population. This fluorescence dilution approach enables quantitative tracking of lymphocyte proliferation at the single-cell level over multiple rounds of division. CFSE-based proliferation analysis has been widely applied to measure antigen-driven lymphocyte expansion in vitro, where discrete fluorescence peaks correspond to successive cell divisions and allow reconstruction of proliferative history within heterogeneous populations.
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Dye-dilution cell tracking and proliferation staining
Dye-dilution cell tracking assays quantify cell proliferation by covalently labeling intracellular proteins with a stable fluorescent dye that is equally partitioned between daughter cells during mitosis, resulting in stepwise halving of fluorescence intensity with each cell division as measured by flow cytometry histograms. Carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) is a prototypical dye that diffuses into cells, is enzymatically converted into a fluorescent compound, and then covalently binds intracellular amine groups, producing long-lived fluorescence suitable for tracking multiple rounds of division in vitro and in vivo. Successive generations of dividing cells form discrete peaks of decreasing fluorescence intensity, enabling estimation of proliferation history, precursor frequency, and division index within heterogeneous populations. Alternative dyes such as CellTrace Violet (CTV) and far-red membrane dyes (e. g. , PKH26) follow the same dilution principle but differ
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Contact Hypersensitivity Dermatitis
Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) dermatitis is a T cell-mediated delayed-type (Type IV) immune reaction in which low-molecular-weight haptens applied to the skin bind host proteins to form complete antigens, triggering sensitization followed by a secondary inflammatory response upon re-exposure (elicitation phase), which is commonly quantified by ear swelling as a readout of skin inflammation in murine models. This model is widely used to study allergic contact dermatitis because it is antigen-specific, reproducible, and reflects key immunological events including dendritic cell activation, T cell priming in draining lymph nodes, and effector T cell-driven tissue inflammation. DNFB- and oxazolone-induced CHS models are standard systems for evaluating both acute and chronic T cell-dependent skin inflammation and for testing immunomodulatory interventions.
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Genotoxicity/Mutagenicity Study
The bacterial reverse mutation assay detects point mutations that restore amino-acid prototrophy in auxotrophic Salmonella typhimurium or Escherichia coli tester strains; after exposure to a test article, mutagenic activity is read out as an increased number of revertant colonies on minimal agar compared with the vehicle control. The assay uses tester strains with different mutation targets so that base-substitution and frameshift mutagens can be detected, and testing is performed with and without exogenous mammalian metabolic activation because some chemicals require biotransformation to become mutagenic.
Purity & Documentation
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Data Sheet (284 KB)
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SDS (396 KB)
- English - EN (396 KB)
- Français - FR (396 KB)
- Deutsch - DE (396 KB)
- Norwegian - NO (396 KB)
- Español - ES (396 KB)
- Swedish - SV (396 KB)
- Italian - IT (396 KB)
- Korean - KR (396 KB)
- Portuguese - PT (396 KB)
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Handling Instructions (2659 KB)
References
[1]. Nguyen HL, et al. Contact Dermatitis to Medications and Skin Products. Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology. 2019 Feb;56(1):41-59. [Content Brief]
[2]. de Groot A, et al. Formaldehyde-releasers in cosmetics: relationship to formaldehyde contact allergy. Part 2. Patch test relationship to formaldehyde contact allergy, experimental provocation tests, amount of formaldehyde released, and assessment of risk to consumers allergic to formaldehyde. Contact Dermatitis. 2010 Jan;62(1):18-31. [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, 2 years; -20°C, 1 year. When stored at -80°C, please use it within 2 years. When stored at -20°C, please use it within 1 year.
| Optional Solvent | Concentration Solvent Mass | 1 mg | 5 mg | 10 mg | 25 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMSO | 1 mM | 5.3141 mL | 26.5703 mL | 53.1406 mL | 132.8515 mL |
| 5 mM | 1.0628 mL | 5.3141 mL | 10.6281 mL | 26.5703 mL | |
| 10 mM | 0.5314 mL | 2.6570 mL | 5.3141 mL | 13.2852 mL | |
| 15 mM | 0.3543 mL | 1.7714 mL | 3.5427 mL | 8.8568 mL | |
| 20 mM | 0.2657 mL | 1.3285 mL | 2.6570 mL | 6.6426 mL | |
| 25 mM | 0.2126 mL | 1.0628 mL | 2.1256 mL | 5.3141 mL | |
| 30 mM | 0.1771 mL | 0.8857 mL | 1.7714 mL | 4.4284 mL | |
| 40 mM | 0.1329 mL | 0.6643 mL | 1.3285 mL | 3.3213 mL | |
| 50 mM | 0.1063 mL | 0.5314 mL | 1.0628 mL | 2.6570 mL | |
| 60 mM | 0.0886 mL | 0.4428 mL | 0.8857 mL | 2.2142 mL | |
| 80 mM | 0.0664 mL | 0.3321 mL | 0.6643 mL | 1.6606 mL | |
| 100 mM | 0.0531 mL | 0.2657 mL | 0.5314 mL | 1.3285 mL |