Gum Arabic Aqueous Solution (10%) - Suitable for Immunofluorescence(IF),BioReagent,for microscopy,Suitable for Immunohistochemistry(IHC),10% , CAS No.9000-01-5

CAS: 9000-01-5 Cat. No.: A1508998 EC Number: 232-519-5

GRADE & PURITY Suitable for Immunofluorescence(IF), BioReagent, for Microscopy, Suitable for Immunohistochemistry(IHC), 10%

Synonyms

Gum Arabic Aqueous Solution

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Application

Cell Staining, IF/ICC, IHC

Overview

Acacia gum, also known as gum arabic, is a natural vegetable gum extracted from trees of the Acacia genus. It has a complex molecular structure, mainly consisting of arabinose, galactose, glucuronic acid and other components. 10% Acacia Gum Aqueous Solution is composed of acacia gum and deionized water. As a thickener, it is widely used in routine tissue mounting media.

Operating Procedures (For Reference Only)

1. After staining, remove as much staining solution as possible by aspiration.

2. Add a drop of 10% Acacia Gum Aqueous Solution onto the tissue section, cover with a coverslip to ensure the section is fully contact with the mounting medium, and avoid air bubbles as much as possible.

Precautions

1. If the dosage per use is small, the reagent can be appropriately aliquoted before use.

2. For your safety and health, wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during operation.

3. Use the reagent as soon as possible after opening to avoid compromising the results of subsequent experiments.

4. This product is for research use only and shall not be used for any other purposes.

Specifications

Synonyms

Gum Arabic Aqueous Solution

Specifications & Purity

Suitable for Immunofluorescence(IF),BioReagent,for microscopy,Suitable for Immunohistochemistry(IHC),10%

Stability And Storage

Store at room temperature long term (12 months).

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Grade

BioReagent, for Microscopy, Suitable for Immunofluorescence(IF), Suitable for Immunohistochemistry(IHC)

Product Line

biological_products

Names and Identifiers

Isomeric SMILES

CC.CC.CC.CC.CC.CC

WGK Germany

2

RTECS

CE5945000

Application Protocols

The following are typical laboratory protocols leveraging a 10% gum arabic stock. Adjust to your samples, antibodies, and imaging setup.

1. IF/IHC Blocking Buffer Preparation

• Prepare PBS or TBS at pH 7.4. Add 10% gum arabic stock to achieve 1% (w/v) final (e.g., 10 mL stock + 90 mL buffer). Optional: add 0.05% Tween 20.
• Stir gently 15–30 min until homogeneous. Filter through 0.22–0.45 µm to clarify. Use fresh or store cold for short periods.

Blocking Step (slides/sections)

• After fixation/permeabilization, cover each section with enough 1% gum arabic buffer to keep surfaces wet.
• Incubate 30 min at RT in a humid chamber. Decant; a brief buffer rinse is optional. Proceed to primary antibody incubation.

2. Slide/Plasticware Passivation

• Coat wells or slides with 0.5–2% gum arabic for 20 min at RT.
• Decant and air-dry (for film) or rinse lightly (for minimal residue). This can reduce nonspecific adsorption in subsequent assays.

3. Nanoparticle Stabilization (Au/Ag)

• Immediately after synthesis, add gum arabic to 0.1–0.5% (w/v) under gentle stirring.
• Allow 15–30 min for adsorption. Verify stability by UV–Vis and DLS. Optimize ionic strength to prevent screening-induced aggregation.

Notes

• For HRP-based IHC, avoid sodium azide preservatives in working buffers. For fluorescence imaging, verify background in your filter sets.
• These protocols are general literature guidance and align with the product’s suitability for IF/IHC; fine-tune empirically.

Biological Roles

Gum arabic is a plant-derived arabinogalactan–protein (AGP) exudate with roles and behaviors relevant to biochemistry and colloid science.

• In planta (general literature): Functions as a protective exudate sealing bark wounds; composition includes branched arabinogalactans, uronic acids, and a protein fraction.
• Macromolecular features: The protein component imparts amphiphilicity, enabling strong interfacial adsorption at oil–water and solid–liquid interfaces; carboxylate groups contribute to a weakly anionic character at physiological pH.
• Biochemical behavior: Forms hydrated, protective films on surfaces; provides steric stabilization to colloids and nanoparticles; can reduce nonspecific protein adsorption on hydrophilic substrates.
• Enzymatic susceptibility: Polysaccharide chains are substrates for glycosidases; protein fraction is protease-sensitive (literature). In lab workflows, this implies potential degradation in enzyme-rich samples over extended incubations.
• Optical considerations: Generally exhibits low intrinsic fluorescence across visible channels, favoring its use in IF; however, background should be empirically checked for specific filter sets and detectors.

Note: This section provides general biological background; it does not imply therapeutic or clinical utility. For laboratory use only, as indicated by the product’s Research Use Only designation.

Buffer Applications

Gum arabic is commonly used as a blocking and stabilizing additive in aqueous buffers for IF/IHC and microscopy.

• Typical buffer systems:
  • PBS or TBS, pH 7.2–7.6 (literature): Add gum arabic to 0.1–5% (w/v) from the 10% stock. Adjust concentration to control blocking strength and viscosity.
  • Inclusion of 0.01–0.1% Tween 20 (optional) to enhance wetting and reduce hydrophobic interactions.
  • For nanoparticle stabilization: 0.05–1% in low-ionic-strength buffers to maximize electrosteric repulsion.
• Preparation tips:
  • Add the 10% stock slowly under stirring to the buffer to avoid clumping. Allow complete hydration/equilibration (15–30 min) before use.
  • Filter working solutions (0.22–0.45 µm) to ensure optical clarity and remove particulates that could seed background in imaging.
  • If long-term storage of working buffers is required, consider sterile filtration into clean aliquots and refrigeration; avoid preservatives that may interfere with downstream enzymes (e.g., sodium azide with HRP).
• Use cases:
  • Blocking step prior to primary antibody incubation in IF/IHC to reduce nonspecific binding.
  • Coating of plasticware or slides to passivate surfaces for cell-free assays or imaging preparations.

Item-specific buffer specifications (pH, conductivity, preservatives) are not provided for this product; refer to the CoA/Spec Sheet for details if required.

Green Alternatives

Gum arabic is itself a renewable, plant-derived biopolymer with benign aquatic fate relative to many synthetic stabilizers. Selection among blocking/stabilizing agents can nevertheless consider sustainability, sourcing, and performance tradeoffs.

Comparison (general literature/practice):

• Gum Arabic (this item):

  • Source: Plant exudate (Acacia spp.). Renewable, biodegradable, animal-free.
  • Pros: Low autofluorescence, excellent electrosteric stabilization of colloids, broad buffer compatibility.
  • Tradeoffs: Natural variability; composition and viscosity can vary by lot and source.

• BSA/Casein (animal proteins):

  • Source: Animal-derived. Strong protein–surface blocking, well-characterized performance in many IHC/IF assays.
  • Tradeoffs: Not animal-free; potential for added background in certain fluorescence channels; cold-chain and bioorigin considerations.

• Fish gelatin:

  • Source: Animal-derived (fish). Lower gelling temperature; low autofluorescence.
  • Tradeoffs: Allergen considerations; batch variability.

• Synthetic polymer blockers (e.g., PVP, PEG-based blockers):

  • Source: Petrochemical. Highly defined composition and lot reproducibility.
  • Tradeoffs: Nonrenewable; some grades may introduce fluorescence or interact unfavorably with hydrophobic dyes.

Sustainability tips:

• Use the lowest effective working concentration and prepare only what is needed to minimize waste and bioburden risk.
• Where sterility is required, sterile-filter rather than rely on chemical preservatives when compatible with your assay.

Pharmaceutical Uses

Context for formulation science (general literature): Gum arabic (also known as acacia) is widely used as an excipient—binder, emulsifier, suspending agent, and encapsulation matrix—in nonclinical and clinical product development. Pharmacopeial monographs exist for acacia/gum arabic in several jurisdictions (e.g., USP–NF, Ph. Eur.), defining tests for identity, purity, and performance for excipient-grade material.

Relevance to this product:

• This listing is a research-grade, 10% aqueous solution designated for microscopy and IF/IHC. It is supplied for research use only and not for use in human or veterinary applications.
• No item-specific compliance claims (e.g., USP/Ph. Eur.) are made here; consult the CoA/Spec Sheet if excipient-relevant data are needed for feasibility studies.

Formulation considerations (literature/guidance):

• Emulsification: Effective at stabilizing oil-in-water emulsions through protein-mediated interfacial adsorption and polysaccharide steric stabilization.
• Taste-masking/film formation: Forms clear, flexible films on drying; used to microencapsulate flavors or sensitive actives in R&D settings.
• Compatibility: Generally compatible with electrolytes and many water-soluble actives; high ethanol or strong oxidants can destabilize the polymer.

Note: The above reflects general excipient knowledge and does not imply suitability of this specific item for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Physical Properties

This product is a 10% (w/v) aqueous solution of gum arabic. Item-specific physical constants are not provided.

• Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Concentration: 10% (w/v) in water (product title).
• pH: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Literature: a 10% gum arabic solution typically exhibits mildly acidic pH (≈4–5) due to uronic acids.
• Density, refractive index, viscosity: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Literature: viscosity increases nonlinearly with concentration; 10% solutions are moderately viscous and shear-thinning.
• Solubility (literature):
  • Freely miscible with water; readily hydrates and dissolves without heating when added slowly under agitation.
  • Insoluble in most organic solvents (alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons); forms colloids in some mixed aqueous systems.
• Charge state (literature): weakly anionic at neutral pH from glucuronic acid residues.
• Hygroscopicity (literature): the dry gum is hygroscopic; aqueous solutions can lose water by evaporation and thicken on standing.

Practical note: For quantitative work (e.g., rheology or particle stabilization studies), verify pH, viscosity, and bioburden of the supplied lot on receipt as these parameters impact performance in IHC/IF blocking and microscopy workflows.

Quality and Grades

This item is designated: Suitable for Immunofluorescence (IF), BioReagent, for Microscopy, Suitable for Immunohistochemistry (IHC).

• What these designations generally imply (general guidance):

  • Suitable for IF/IHC: Selected to minimize nonspecific background and autofluorescence in fluorescence and chromogenic imaging workflows. Often associated with low particulate content and good optical clarity when properly diluted and filtered.
  • BioReagent: Intended for research and laboratory applications; specifications prioritize reproducibility in biochemical protocols.
  • For Microscopy: Appropriate optical performance when used as a blocking/coating/stabilizing medium; compatible with common mounting and imaging buffers.

• Item-specific specifications (this listing):

  • Purity/assay, UV cutoff, trace metals, endotoxin/bioburden: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Stabilizers/preservatives: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Practical quality notes:

• Background control: When preparing blocking buffers for IF/IHC, pre-filter diluted solutions (e.g., 0.22–0.45 µm) to remove particulates that can scatter light or seed nonspecific binding.
• Lot verification: For imaging-critical work, benchmark new lots by measuring background fluorescence in your imaging channel set and by running a no-primary control alongside your standard workflow.
• Documentation: For regulated or GLP-like contexts, retain the lot CoA and any in-house qualification data (pH, viscosity, bioburden, fluorescence baseline).

Reaction and Applications

Primary applications are in bioanalytical and imaging workflows rather than classical synthetic reactions.

• Imaging and histology (aligned with item grade):
  • Immunofluorescence (IF) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC): Used as a blocking/coating additive to reduce nonspecific adsorption of antibodies and serum proteins on glass, plastic, and tissue surfaces, thereby lowering background. Also helps maintain even reagent spreading across sections.
  • Microscopy: As a mild adhesive/film-former on slides to improve sample retention and as a viscosity modifier to slow reagent runoff.
• Colloids and nanomaterials (literature):
  • Stabilization of gold/silver nanoparticles via the arabinogalactan–protein fraction, providing electrosteric stabilization and preventing aggregation.
  • Emulsification/encapsulation in aqueous dispersions, aiding formation of stable oil-in-water emulsions for imaging probes or labels prepared in-house.
• Enzymology/assay support (literature): Reduces nonspecific binding in ELISA-like plate assays and can be included in wash buffers to mitigate background.

Practical tips:

• Dilution: From a 10% stock, typical working ranges are 0.1–5% (w/v) in PBS/TBS, depending on sample and antibody stickiness.
• Clarification: Pre-filter working solutions (0.22–0.45 µm) to remove haze; degas to minimize bubbles in imaging fields.
• Order of addition: For blocking buffers that also include detergents and salts, dissolve/dilute gum arabic last under gentle stirring to avoid localized gelation.
• Compatibility: Test with cationic dyes or polycations (e.g., poly-L-lysine) to avoid precipitation on slides.

Reaction Conditions

Given its role as a blocking/stabilizing additive rather than a stoichiometric reactant, the most relevant “conditions” are those for sample preparation and imaging workflows.

IF/IHC blocking (general literature guidance):

• Working concentration: 0.1–5% (w/v) gum arabic in PBS or TBS.
• Incubation: 15–60 min at room temperature (RT) on tissue sections or fixed cells, sufficient to passivate surfaces.
• Detergent: Optional 0.01–0.1% Tween 20 to enhance coverage and reduce hydrophobic interactions.
• Rinsing: Brief buffer rinse prior to primary antibody addition to remove loosely bound polysaccharide if background is observed.

Nanoparticle stabilization (literature):

• Concentration: 0.05–1% (w/v) during or after particle synthesis. Adjust ionic strength to minimize screening of electrostatic repulsion.
• Temperature: Ambient; avoid prolonged exposure >50–60°C to limit polymer degradation.

Coating/film formation (slides or plasticware):

• Apply 0.5–2% (w/v) solution, incubate 10–30 min, decant, and air-dry or rinse lightly depending on desired film thickness. Filter prior to use for optical work.

Expected outcomes (typical, literature): Reduced nonspecific binding/background in IF/IHC; improved dispersion stability for colloids. Always validate conditions with controls for your specific system.

Safety and Handling

• GHS classification and pictograms: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS for authoritative safety information.
• Signal word / H-statements: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.

General laboratory safety (applicable to gum arabic solutions; literature/practice):

• Low intrinsic hazard is typical; however, observe good hygiene and PPE: lab coat, safety glasses, and appropriate gloves.
• Avoid microbial contamination. Being carbohydrate-rich, aqueous solutions can support microbial growth. Use aseptic technique; consider sterile filtration and/or addition of a compatible preservative when appropriate to your application.
• Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers may degrade polysaccharides and protein residues. Avoid mixing with cationic polymers without prior compatibility testing (risk of complexation/precipitation).
• Handling: Viscous solutions may aerosolize when vigorously pipetted—work slowly to minimize bubbles/foaming. If foaming occurs, allow to stand or gently degas under vacuum.
• First aid (general):
  • Skin/eye contact: Rinse with water. Remove contaminated clothing. Seek medical advice if irritation persists.
  • Ingestion/inhalation: Rinse mouth, move to fresh air. Obtain medical attention if unwell.
• Spills: Wipe with water; solutions can be slippery. For dried residues, avoid dust generation; dampen before cleanup.
• Waste: Dispose according to institutional and local regulations; carbohydrate solutions are typically nonhazardous but may require biowaste handling if contaminated.

Always consult the product SDS for the specific lot before use.

Solvent Selection

This product is not a solvent; it is a 10% (w/v) aqueous biopolymer solution intended as an additive in biological/imaging workflows. Nevertheless, solvent compatibility is relevant for formulation and use.

• Primary medium: Water (aqueous). Fully miscible with water and common biological buffers (PBS, TBS) across typical pH ranges used in IF/IHC.
• Buffer compatibility (practice):
  • Compatible with PBS, TBS, and HEPES buffers; ionic strength can influence viscosity and potential complexation with cationic species.
  • Surfactants: Frequently used with 0.01–0.1% nonionic surfactants (e.g., Tween 20) to improve wetting and reduce hydrophobic interactions.
• Organic solvent exposure (literature): Limited tolerance. High proportions of alcohols/ketones/hydrocarbons can precipitate or denature the gum arabic matrix; if cosolvents are required (e.g., ≤10% ethanol), verify clarity and performance empirically.
• pH window (literature): Stable and functional in mildly acidic to neutral pH; at very low pH (<3) or high ionic strength, viscosity and colloidal stability may change.

When to choose gum arabic vs alternatives:

• Choose gum arabic when a plant-derived, low-autofluorescence blocking or stabilizing agent is preferred, particularly for nanoparticle dispersion, slide blocking, or preventing nonspecific adsorption.
• Consider alternatives (BSA, casein, fish gelatin, synthetic blockers) when protein–protein blocking or defined macromolecular composition is critical, or when animal-free vs animal-derived sourcing is a constraint.

Storage and Reconstitution

• Storage conditions (item-specific): Room temperature (as provided in Product Data). Ship at ambient temperature (Normal shipping). Protect from direct sunlight and excessive heat.
• Research use: For research use only.

Handling and preservation (general best practices):

• Microbial control: Because this is an aqueous carbohydrate solution, work aseptically. For multi-week use, consider sterile filtration of aliquots. If your workflow allows, a compatible preservative can be used; avoid azide where HRP is used.
• Aliquoting: Divide into working aliquots to minimize repeated opening and contamination. Record open dates and lot IDs.
• Evaporation: Keep containers tightly closed; evaporation will increase concentration and viscosity.

Reconstitution/dilution:

• This is a ready-to-use 10% (w/v) stock. Prepare working solutions (e.g., 0.1–5%) by diluting with your assay buffer (PBS/TBS). Add stock slowly under stirring to avoid localized high viscosity.
• Clarification: Filter diluted solutions (0.22–0.45 µm) before imaging to ensure optical clarity. Degas gently if bubbles form.

Stability/shelf life:

• Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. As general guidance, prepare only the volume needed for near-term experiments and monitor for turbidity, odor, or pH drift as indicators of contamination or degradation.

Structure and Identity

Gum Arabic (acacia gum) is a complex, natural, plant-derived polysaccharide-protein exudate supplied here as an aqueous solution at 10% (w/v). It is a heterogeneous arabinogalactan–protein (AGP) biopolymer rather than a single defined small molecule.

• Item identity: Gum Arabic Aqueous Solution (10%), CAS 9000-01-5, CID 91333377
• Molecular formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. (Note: heterogeneous polymer; no single empirical formula.)
• Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Literature: broad distributions typically ca. 100–1000+ kDa for the polysaccharide fraction; contains a minor protein component (AGP) that confers surface activity.
• SMILES / InChIKey: Not applicable to heterogeneous polymers; not specified for this item.
• Structural features (general chemistry knowledge):
  • Highly branched arabinogalactan backbone rich in β-(1→3)(1→6)-D-galactopyranose units with arabinofuranose side chains.
  • Minor rhamnose and glucuronic acid residues; carboxylate groups impart weak polyanionic character at neutral pH.
  • Covalently linked protein (typically 1–3% w/w in raw gum; literature) provides amphiphilicity and strong emulsifying behavior.
• 2D/functional description: A polydisperse, branched carbohydrate matrix bearing occasional carboxylate moieties and peptide segments; lacks discrete stereogenic assignments beyond native sugar stereochemistry.

Notes: As a natural product mixture and aqueous preparation, exact composition and macromolecular parameters vary by source and lot; consult the CoA for item-specific identity tests.

Synthetic Utility

Gum arabic is not a typical small-molecule building block. Its main utility in synthetic contexts is as a green auxiliary, matrix, or stabilizer.

• As a reaction medium/additive (literature):
  • Emulsifier for biphasic or micellar catalysis, enhancing mass transfer in aqueous-organic systems.
  • Stabilizer for metal nanoparticles (Au, Ag, Pd) used as heterogeneous catalysts; the AGP fraction provides protective shells limiting sintering and aggregation.
• As a support or protective colloid: Controls particle growth and morphology in precipitations or crystallizations performed in water.
• Encapsulation/coating: Microencapsulation of sensitive reagents to modulate release or protect from oxidation during handling in R&D.

Limitations:

• Not defined stoichiometrically; batch variability can affect reproducibility in finely tuned catalytic systems.
• Thermal/oxidative sensitivity limits use in high-temperature or strongly oxidizing reactions.

If your aim is classical small-molecule synthesis, consider this product primarily as a formulation/processing aid rather than a reagent. For matrix-assisted applications (e.g., colloid-catalysis), preliminary optimization of concentration, ionic strength, and pH is recommended.

Target Specificity

Not applicable. This product is not an antibody or affinity reagent and has no antigen/epitope specificity. In IF/IHC workflows it serves as a nonspecific blocking/stabilizing additive to reduce undesired interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Suitable for Immunofluorescence(IF) mean?

Suitable for Immunofluorescence(IF) indicates the product has been validated for use in immunoassays such as ELISA, IF, IHC and flow cytometry. Validation may include positive/negative control samples, signal-to-noise testing, and protocol-specific QC. Lot-specific test data is published on the Certificate of Analysis where available.

What does BioReagent mean?

BioReagent indicates that the product has been processed and tested for biological and biochemical applications. Specifications may include endotoxin limits, microbial controls, sterility, low DNase/RNase/protease activity, and verified biological activity where relevant.

How should this product be stored?

Store at room temperature.

How is this product shipped?

This product ships under standard ambient conditions. No temperature-controlled packaging is required.

What are the CAS number, molecular formula and molecular weight?

The CAS Number is 9000-01-5.

What documentation is provided?

Available product documentation, including Certificates of Analysis (COA), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and specification sheets, is shown in the product document area. Document availability and access follow the current site policy.