Polybrene (10 mg/mL)

Polybrene (Hexadimethrine Bromide) is a polycationic polymer widely used in mammalian cell gene delivery experiments, particularly to enhance the transduction efficiency of retroviral- and lentiviral-mediated gene transfer. Its mechanism of action is mainly attributed to neutralizing the electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged sialic acid residues on the cell surface and viral particles, thereby promoting viral adsorption to the cell membrane and facilitating viral entry, ultimately improving transduction efficiency.

In addition to gene delivery applications, Polybrene is also a classical heparin antagonist, capable of neutralizing the anticoagulant activity of heparin. It has been used in hematological studies to induce non-specific agglutination of red blood cells. Furthermore, in protein sequencing and Edman degradation, trace amounts of Polybrene can improve peptide immobilization on solid supports, thereby reducing sample loss and enhancing sequencing stability. In membrane-based protein analysis such as Western blotting, the addition of Polybrene during PVDF membrane treatment can also enhance membrane affinity for proteins or peptides, improving detection sensitivity.

MCE Polybrene (10 mg/mL) is provided as a ready-to-use solution, prepared in 0.9% saline and sterilized by filtration through a 0.22 μm membrane. For use, it is typically diluted 1:1000-1:2000 to the working concentration. The optimal working concentration may vary depending on cell type and experimental conditions and should be empirically optimized based on relevant literature or preliminary experiments.