DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) is a polar, aprotic organic solvent that is commonly used as a cryoprotectant because of its membrane penetrating and water displacement properties. It is added to cell culture media to reduce ice formation and thereby prevent cell death during the freezing process.
The methyl groups of DMSO are only weakly acidic, with a pKa = 35. For this reason, the basicities of many weakly basic organic compounds have been examined.
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a small molecule with polar, aprotic and amphiphilic alterations especially in proteins and nucleic acids.
A single dose of DMSO < or =0.1% (2.96 x 10(-5) microM) may be safely used to dilute compounds injected into the vitreous of a rat eye.