RS Agar - BioReagent

Cat. No.: R1528719

GRADE & PURITY BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Übersicht

For isolation of pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila

Specifications

Spezifikationen & Reinheit

BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Verschickt in

Normal

Note

BioReagent

Product Line

Biologische Produkte

Application Protocols

Item-specific tested applications: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

General laboratory protocols (literature; adapt to your SOPs)

• Preparation of agar plates:
  • Weigh agar and dry media components to desired final concentrations (e.g., 1.5% agar with appropriate nutrients).
  • Add water to volume, heat with stirring to dissolve; autoclave at 121 °C for 15–20 min.
  • Cool to 50–55 °C; add sterile-filtered heat-labile additives (e.g., antibiotics), mix gently, and pour 20–25 mL per 90-mm plate.
  • Allow to solidify, then store inverted at 2–8 °C in sealed sleeves to prevent desiccation.
• Soft-agar overlay (plaque assays/colony growth): Prepare a lower-agar medium (e.g., 0.5–0.7% agar) kept at ~45 °C, mix with inoculum, and overlay onto pre-hardened base agar.
• Motility assay: Use 0.3–0.4% agar in appropriate medium; stab-inoculate and incubate, assessing diffusion of growth from the stab line.

Note: Validate conditions (agar concentration, supplements, volumes) for your organisms and endpoints. Follow institutional biosafety and waste disposal procedures.

Biological Roles

Scope note

• Agar is an inert structural polysaccharide for most laboratory organisms and is used as a physical matrix rather than a nutrient source. The following describes general biological context of agar’s components; it is not item-specific or a statement of bioactivity.

General biology (literature)

• Origin: Extracted from red algae cell walls, where agar-type galactans provide structural rigidity.
• Nutritional inertness: Most bacteria and eukaryotic cells used in laboratory culture lack agarases and therefore cannot metabolize agar; this property makes agar an excellent neutral support matrix for microbiology.
• Enzymatic degradation: Certain marine bacteria produce agarases that can hydrolyze agarose into oligosaccharides; this is uncommon in standard clinical or environmental isolates used in basic labs.
• Biocompatibility: Agar gels are largely non-toxic to microorganisms and plant tissues and offer low background interference with many indicators and antibiotics when adequately purified.
• Osmotic and pH behavior: Agar contributes minimally to ionic strength and buffering; the medium’s salts and buffers largely determine osmotic and pH environments.

Buffer Applications

Applicability

• Agar is not a buffering agent and is not used to set or maintain pH. Therefore, this section is of limited relevance.

Practical note (literature/general)

• In agar-based media, pH is governed by the dissolved components (e.g., phosphate, Tris, citrate buffers). Agar’s role is to gel the medium and provide a solid surface. When preparing buffered media, adjust pH before adding agar or prior to sterilization, as appropriate for the formulation.
• For electrophoresis or nucleic acid separations, agarose (not general agar) is the standard gelling matrix; buffer systems such as TAE or TBE are used to control ionic strength and pH.

Green Alternatives

Context

• Agar itself is a renewable, bio-based polymer derived from red seaweeds. From a green chemistry perspective, it is already a favorable alternative to petroleum-derived gelling agents.

Comparative considerations (literature/general)

• Agar vs. Gelatin: Agar is non-animal, exhibits stronger gels at lower concentrations, and has higher melting temperatures (enabling incubation at 37 °C without melting). Gelatin is animal-derived, melts near physiological temperatures, and is more biodegradable but less thermally stable.
• Agar vs. Agarose: Agarose (a more purified fraction) provides higher gel transparency and lower inhibitory components, useful for sensitive cells/assays, but requires more processing and cost; agar is the more sustainable, lower-footprint choice for routine microbiology.
• Agar vs. Gellan gum: Gellan can provide highly transparent, defined gels at lower use levels and is microbially produced (fermentation-based). However, it often needs cation control and may have different textural properties compared to agar.

Small comparison (literature; not item-specific)

• Resource base: Agar (seaweed harvest) | Gellan (fermentation) | Gelatin (animal byproduct)
• Thermal behavior: Agar (gel ~32–40 °C; melt ~85–95 °C), Gellan (thermo-reversible; ion-dependent), Gelatin (melts ~30–35 °C)

Practical guidance

• For laboratories aiming to reduce environmental impact, agar is an appropriate default for solid media. Choose agarose only when optical clarity or low inhibitor background is essential; consider gellan gum when defined composition and low-concentration gels are desired.

Pharmaceutical Uses

Scope

• No therapeutic claims. The following describes non-clinical, research, and manufacturing-context uses drawn from general literature; it is not item-specific.

General roles (literature)

• Microbiological quality control: Agar is widely used to prepare plate count media and selective/differential agars for environmental and in-process monitoring in pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.
• Excipients and prototypes: Agar can function as a gelling/thickening agent in experimental formulations (e.g., topical gels) within R&D settings. For regulated applications, compendial-grade materials with defined specifications are typically required; consult relevant pharmacopeias.
• Cell and tissue models: Agar-based gels may serve as inert physical barriers or substrates in in vitro diffusion, release, or colony formation assays.

Regulatory note

• For GMP or QC testing, match required pharmacopeial monographs and ensure the agar meets stipulated parameters (e.g., gel strength, ash, contaminants). For this item, specific compliance status is Not specified; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Physical Properties

Item-specific facts (from Product Data)

• Molecular Formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Molecular Weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Literature/general values for agar (not item-specific)

• Solubility: Insoluble in cold water; swells and hydrates. Soluble upon heating in water (>85–90 °C, literature) with full dissolution typically on boiling; forms strong gels on cooling.
• Gelation/melting (typical, literature): Gel point ~32–40 °C; melting point of formed gels ~85–95 °C (significant thermal hysteresis).
• Density (bulk powder): Highly variable with particle size and moisture; commonly ~0.5–0.7 g/mL (loose bulk, literature). Not a specification for this item.
• pH influence: Agar is essentially neutral; final pH of agar-containing media is governed by the media formulation, not agar per se (literature).
• Ash, gel strength, sulfate content, moisture: Critical performance parameters for agar but item-specific values are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Practical notes (general)

• Hydration requires vigorous heating and stirring to avoid clumping. Autoclaving at 121 °C improves dissolution for most media formulations (literature practice).

Quality and Grades

Item-specific facts (from Product Data)

• Grade/Purity: BioReagent.

Interpretation and expectations (general; not item-specific specs)

• BioReagent-grade materials are intended for laboratory research and bioprocess workflows. For agar, this typically emphasizes consistent gelling behavior, low bioburden/contaminants, and suitability for preparing microbiological media or biological culture matrices.
• Key performance attributes for agar lots include: gel strength (e.g., measured at a defined concentration), clarity/color, sulfate/ash content, moisture, and microbial load/endotoxin. These determine suitability for specific applications (microbiology plates vs. plant tissue culture vs. general culture). Values for this item are Not specified; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• UV absorbance/fluorescent background: For imaging or sensitive optical assays, lower background is preferred; verify with lot CoA when relevant.
• Trace impurities: Natural variability can influence inhibitory substances (e.g., phenolics); BioReagent grading often incorporates additional purification/standardization steps to minimize inhibitory effects in culture.

Practical guidance

• For regulated or method-defined testing, match CoA criteria (gel strength, sulfate, ash) to your method requirements. Request a CoA for your lot and, if needed, perform small-scale validation of colony morphology and growth rates using your target organisms.

Reaction and Applications

Applicability

• Agar is not a conventional reagent or solvent for chemical reactions. Its value lies in its physical role as a thermo-reversible gelling matrix.

Research and laboratory applications (literature/general)

• Microbiology: Solidifying agent for culture media and plates (e.g., general-purpose and selective media). Supports isolation, colony morphology assessment, and differential assays.
• Molecular biology/yeast work: Preparation of selection plates (e.g., with antibiotics, auxotrophic markers). Agar concentration can be tuned to influence colony spread and motility.
• Plant tissue culture: Base gelling agent for sterile plant media where consistent gel strength and low inhibitory compounds are required.
• Cell biology: Substratum for soft-agar assays to assess anchorage-independent growth (using agar or low-melt agarose variants depending on protocol).
• Environmental microbiology: Pour plates, roll tubes, and motility deeps; media composition dictates selectivity/indicator properties.

Practical tips (general practice)

• Dissolve by heating to boiling with vigorous stirring; autoclave at 121 °C for 15–20 min (literature) to sterilize. Cool to ~50–55 °C before adding heat-labile supplements and pouring plates to minimize condensation and preserve activity.
• Typical working concentrations (literature): 1.0–2.0% w/v for standard plates; 0.3–0.7% for motility assays; ≥3% for swarming suppression. Verify against your method.
• Degassing: Briefly maintain melted medium at 55–60 °C to allow bubbles to dissipate before pouring.
• Storage of plates: Store inverted at 2–8 °C in sealed bags or wrapped to minimize desiccation (procedure-dependent).

Reaction Conditions

Applicability

• Not a chemical reaction reagent. This section provides general laboratory preparation conditions for agar media (literature guidance; not item-specific specifications).

Typical preparation (literature)

• Concentration: Commonly 10–20 g/L (1–2% w/v) for standard plates; adjust 3–4% for very firm gels or 0.3–0.7% for motility/soft agar assays.
• Dissolution: Suspend agar in the desired aqueous medium, heat with stirring to near boiling until fully dissolved (solution becomes clear).
• Sterilization: Autoclave at 121 °C for 15–20 minutes (liquid cycle). Avoid overprocessing to minimize caramelization or Maillard reactions in sugar-rich media.
• Supplementation: Cool to ~50–55 °C before adding heat-labile supplements (antibiotics, vitamins, inducers). Mix gently to avoid bubble entrapment.
• Pouring: Pour into sterile plates while warm; allow to solidify at room temperature on a level surface. Dry plates if necessary to remove surface moisture, then store inverted.
• Incubation stability: Agar gels remain solid at typical incubation temperatures (20–45 °C). Excessive drying during long incubations can lead to cracking; use sealed packaging or humidified chambers as needed.

Quality checks

• Visual clarity, absence of precipitates, and consistent gel firmness across batches help verify lot suitability for your application.

Safety and Handling

Item-specific hazard information (from Product Data)

• Signal Word: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.
• H-Statements: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.
• GHS Classification/Pictograms: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.

General safety guidance (literature/practice; not a substitute for SDS)

• Expected hazards: Agar is generally regarded as low hazard. As a fine powder it can generate nuisance dust; inhalation may cause mechanical respiratory irritation. Eye and skin contact may cause transient irritation. Spilled hydrated agar can create slip hazards.
• Combustibility: Organic polymeric solid; may burn if strongly heated. Avoid creating dust clouds near ignition sources.
• Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers may degrade polysaccharides. Avoid contact with strong acids or bases during dry handling; pH extremes can hydrolyze polysaccharide during processing.
• Thermal processing: Heating/boiling can cause bumping; use appropriate glassware and boiling chips or controlled heating. During autoclaving, do not overfill vessels; leave headspace to prevent boil-over.
• PPE: Lab coat, safety glasses, and appropriate gloves (e.g., nitrile). Use dust mask/respirator if airborne dust may be generated and local regulations or risk assessment require it.
• First aid (overview): Move to fresh air after dust inhalation; rinse eyes cautiously with water for several minutes; wash exposed skin with soap and water. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
• Always consult the product-specific SDS for authoritative safety information and regulatory status.

Solvent Selection

Applicability

• Agar is a gelling polysaccharide and not used as a reaction solvent. This section focuses on dissolution and preparation behavior rather than solvent selection for reactions.

General dissolution behavior (literature)

• Primary medium: Water. Agar is insoluble in cold water but hydrates and dissolves upon heating to near boiling. The solubilized polymer forms thermo-reversible gels upon cooling.
• Aqueous buffers and media: Dissolves similarly in most standard microbiological media (e.g., nutrient broth, LB, minimal media) during autoclaving; salts and sugars can modestly affect gel strength and gel point.
• Organic solvents: Generally insoluble in most common organic solvents; miscibility is poor. Co-solvent systems (e.g., with small amounts of ethanol) are typically avoided as they can weaken gels.

Selection tips (practice)

• Choose ultrapure water for sensitive culture applications to minimize inhibitory ions/organic contaminants.
• For high-clarity plates, use appropriately filtered media and avoid caramelization by controlling autoclave time.
• If gel strength is critical (e.g., swarming suppression), adjust agar concentration rather than altering solvent composition.

Storage and Reconstitution

Item-specific facts (from Product Data)

• Storage Conditions: Room temperature.
• Shipped In: Normal.

General storage guidance (literature/practice)

• Keep container tightly closed in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture uptake and clumping. Protect from persistent high humidity. Avoid freezing of dry powder is not typically required.
• Shelf life is lot-dependent; consult CoA for retest or expiration date. If caking occurs, break up gently; performance is usually unaffected if dryness is maintained.

Reconstitution/preparation (literature; not item-specific specs)

• Weigh desired amount of agar into a suitable vessel with water or complete medium. Heat with stirring to boiling until fully dissolved; alternatively, autoclave to achieve dissolution and sterilization simultaneously.
• After autoclaving, cool to ~50–55 °C before adding heat-labile components. To avoid condensation in plates, equilibrate poured plates at room temperature with lids ajar in a sterile environment until surfaces dry slightly, then seal/sleeve.
• Avoid repeated melt/solidify cycles where possible; while agar is thermo-reversible, multiple cycles can lead to moisture loss and concentration drift.

Research use note

• For research use only (as per Product Data). Not for human or animal therapeutic use.

Structure and Identity

Item-specific facts (from Product Data)

• Product: RS Agar (SKU: R1528719)
• Grade: BioReagent
• Structural identifiers (CAS, CID, InChIKey, SMILES, molecular formula, molecular weight): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

General chemistry/biomaterial description (literature)

• RS Agar refers to an agar-based material; agar is a complex, polydisperse mixture of sulfated and non-sulfated galactans obtained from certain red algae (Rhodophyta). It consists predominantly of two fractions: agarose (a neutral, linear polymer of repeating agarobiose disaccharide units) and agaropectin (a more heterogeneous, sulfated fraction with minor non-carbohydrate substituents).
• Because agar is a natural product and a formulation component, it does not have a single defined molecular formula or exact molecular weight; properties depend on source and processing.
• Structural features (2D description, literature): The repeating backbone is composed of alternating 3-linked β-D-galactopyranose and 4-linked 3,6-anhydro-α-L-galactopyranose units, with occasional sulfate, pyruvate, and methyl substituents (mainly in the agaropectin fraction).
• Physical form: Typically supplied as off-white to light tan granules or powder (appearance for this specific item: Not specified; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.).

Synthetic Utility

Applicability

• Agar is not generally used as a chemical reagent. However, as a functional material, it has utility in laboratory workflows where a solid, aqueous, thermo-reversible matrix is beneficial.

General utility (literature/practice)

• Immobilization matrix: Entrapment of cells or enzymes within agar beads or plates for screening and colony selection.
• Spatial separation: Physical compartmentalization of micro-reactions (e.g., colony-level genetic or metabolic screens) without chemical interference.
• Soft-matter templating: Agar gels can act as sacrificial templates or supports for forming inorganic/organic structures after impregnation and subsequent drying/calcination (method development contexts).
• Diffusion studies: Used to model diffusion coefficients of small molecules, dyes, or nutrients through hydrated polymer networks.

Limitations

• Poor compatibility with most organic solvents and strong acids/bases. High temperatures are required for dissolution; heat-labile components must be added post-sterilization at reduced temperatures.

Target Specificity

Not applicable

• This product is not an antibody, probe, or targeted binding reagent. There is no antigen, epitope, clone, isotype, or species reactivity associated with agar. No target specificity data are provided in the Product Data.