4% Glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Sodium Cacodylate Buffer
FluxMPS™ 4% Glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Sodium Cacodylate Buffer
A ready-to-use, quadruple-stage filtered 4% glutaraldehyde fixative prepared in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer at physiological pH 7.4. Formulated for artifact-free ultrastructural preservation in transmission and scanning electron microscopy, this MPS-grade reagent delivers sterile, mycoplasma-safe, particulate-controlled fixation for tissue, cell, organoid, and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) samples.
- Quadruple-stage filtered: 0.1-micron membrane twice and 0.04-micron membrane twice
- 4% glutaraldehyde crosslinker buffered in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate at pH 7.4
- Gold-standard fixative for TEM, SEM, and correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM)
- Prepared with ultrapure Type 1 water (18.2 MΩ·cm)
- No detectable DNase or RNase activity
- Manufactured under ISO 13485-certified, CE-approved facilities
- Custom concentrations, pH, and additive formulations available on request
- Formulation4% Glutaraldehyde / 0.1 M Sodium Cacodylate
- pH7.4
- AppearanceClear solution
- Filtration0.1 µm x2 + 0.04 µm x2
- DNase ActivityNone detected
- RNase ActivityNone detected
- Storage4°C, protect from light
- Shelf Life12 mo. unopened / 3 mo. opened
- Size500 mL
- Manufacturing StandardISO 13485 / CE-approved
Engineered where standard fixatives fail
Conventional glutaraldehyde solutions filtered through a single 0.22 µm pass can carry residual subvisible particulates and inconsistent buffering, producing membrane distortion, acidification artifacts, and background noise in high-resolution imaging. FluxMPS™ DCP-GASC4X is built to remove those variables at the source.
Ultra-clean fixative purity
Quadruple-stage 0.1 µm and 0.04 µm membrane filtration removes particulates and microbial contaminants before they can interfere with fine ultrastructural detail.
Precise, stable pH
Buffered at pH 7.4 with 0.1 M sodium cacodylate, a buffer system chosen for superior pH stability across prolonged fixation periods versus phosphate alternatives.
Ultrapure-grade water
Formulated with ultrapure Type 1 water (18.2 MΩ·cm), consistent with USP <85> water quality expectations for sensitive reagent preparation.
Low background for imaging
Rapid, uniform crosslinking preserves organelle and membrane architecture with the contrast and nanometer-scale fidelity required for TEM, SEM, and CLEM workflows.
Defined, traceable composition
Every lot is prepared to the same 4% glutaraldehyde / 0.1 M sodium cacodylate specification, with QC-verified pH, sterility, and nuclease activity results.
Customization on demand
Alternate concentrations, pH values, and the addition of chemicals, compounds, proteins, or supplements can be produced on inquiry.
Quadruple-stage filtration system
DCP-GASC4X is filtered through a 0.1-micron membrane twice and a 0.04-micron membrane twice, the same quadruple-stage protocol used across DiagnoCine Precision sterile buffers to guard against mycoplasma and other subvisible contamination.
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1
0.1 µm Pre-filtration I
First pass through a 0.1 µm membrane removes large particulates and aggregates, extending the life of downstream filters.
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2
0.04 µm Pre-filtration II
A 0.04 µm pass retains fine particulates and bioburden. The smallest documented mycoplasma type is about 0.2 microns, well above this pore size.
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3
0.1 µm Sterile-filtration I
A second 0.1 µm pass adds redundancy ahead of final polishing filtration.
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4
0.04 µm Sterile-filtration II — Final Polish
A second 0.04 µm pass provides the final polish, supporting sterility and particulate-free consistency for high-resolution imaging preparations.
Performance vs. conventional buffer
Sequential 0.1 µm and 0.04 µm filtration, applied twice each, removes finer particulates than a single conventional 0.22 µm pass, supporting mycoplasma-safe, low-background fixation for advanced imaging applications.
© Diagnocine® — DCP-GASC4X
Where DCP-GASC4X performs
Formulated as the industry-standard ultrastructural fixative, DCP-GASC4X supports electron microscopy, biochemical crosslinking, and structural preservation workflows across tissue, cell, and microphysiological system (MPS) samples.
Automated Bioreactors & Robotics
For labs integrating fixation steps into automated liquid handling or robotic tissue-processing lines, an optional 10 nm (0.01 µm) ultra-filtered variant of this fixative is available to further reduce particulate load in automated dispensing systems.
- Total Particulate Exclusion for narrow-bore automated dispensing lines
- Valve & Sensor Protection against particulate fouling in robotic platforms
- Extended Perfusion Stability for automated organ-on-a-chip fixation protocols
Inquiry Required: the 0.01 µm ultra-filtered grade is produced to order; contact support@diagnocine.com to request this variant.
TEM & SEM Ultrastructural Fixation
The gold-standard fixative for TEM and SEM workflows, rapidly stabilizing proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids and preserving organelles and membrane systems with nanometer-scale fidelity. Fixative penetration reaches depths of 0.4–0.5 mm/hour, ensuring uniform fixation even in dense tissue.
Correlative Light & Electron Microscopy (CLEM)
Rapid, uniform crosslinking supports the precise spatial registration required for CLEM studies linking light microscopy and ultrastructural imaging of the same sample.
Enzyme Immobilization & Protein Crosslinking
Glutaraldehyde-mediated amine crosslinking creates stable molecular networks, enabling protein interaction studies while retaining enzymatic activity in immobilized systems.
Histochemical Stabilization
Provides stable tissue and antigen structure for downstream histochemical staining and analysis where preservation of native architecture is required.
Immersion Fixation of Tissue Samples
For immersion fixation, tissue samples (ideally no larger than 1 mm3 for optimal penetration) are placed directly into the 4% glutaraldehyde solution and typically remain in the fixative for at least one hour at room temperature before being washed with buffer solution to remove excess glutaraldehyde.
Organoid, iPSC & Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) Fixation
Compatible for fixation of organoid, iPSC-derived, and organ-on-a-chip tissue sections prior to structural or ultrastructural analysis.
Full specification sheet
Physical, chemical, sterility, storage, and traceability parameters for DCP-GASC4X.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Formulation | 4% Glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Sodium Cacodylate Buffer |
| Appearance | Clear solution |
| pH USP <791> | 7.4 |
| Glutaraldehyde Concentration | 4% |
| Sodium Cacodylate Concentration | 0.1 M |
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sterility / Filtration USP <71> | 0.1 µm membrane twice, 0.04 µm membrane twice |
| DNase Activity | None detected (plasmid DNA, 18 hr, room temperature) |
| RNase Activity | None detected (ribosomal RNA, 18 hr, room temperature) |
| Water Quality | Ultrapure Type 1 water (18.2 MΩ·cm) |
| Hazard Classification | Glutaraldehyde: Acute Toxicity Category 2; Sodium Cacodylate: contains arsenic |
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Storage Temperature | 4°C, away from bright light (amber container) |
| Shelf Life | 12 months from manufacture date (unopened); 3 months post-opening |
| Shipping Condition | Typically ships within 48 hours; may take up to 1 week during unforeseen events |
| PPE Requirements | Nitrile gloves, lab coat, ANSI-approved eye protection |
| Engineering Controls | Fume hood for aliquoting or large-volume handling |
| Spill Protocol | Neutralize with 1 M glycine solution before disposal |
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing QMS | ISO 13485-certified, CE-approved facilities |
| Traceability | Customization and final assembly performed at DiagnoCine Precision, Totowa, New Jersey, USA |
| Production Method | Filtered 0.1-micron membrane twice, 0.04-micron membrane twice |
| Intended Use | For Research Use Only (RUO) |
Full composition
DCP-GASC4X contains two release-tested components at defined concentrations, per lot.
| Component | CAS Number | Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| Glutaraldehyde | 111-30-8 | 4% |
| Sodium Cacodylate | 124-65-2 | 0.1 M |
Manufacturing & compliance
DCP-GASC4X is produced and finished under a controlled quality system with full traceability.
ISO 13485:2016 QMS
Manufactured under an ISO 13485-certified, CE-approved quality management system.
Ultrapure Type 1 Water
Formulated with 18.2 MΩ·cm Type 1 water for a defined, low-background buffer base.
ISO Class 5 Fill & Finish
Final packaging, quality assurance, and testing performed at the DiagnoCine R&D and Quality Testing Center.
Micro-Batch Precision
Custom concentration, pH, and additive requests are assembled at DiagnoCine Precision, Totowa, New Jersey, USA.
Nuclease Testing
No DNase activity detected after 18 hr incubation with plasmid DNA at room temperature; no RNase activity detected after 18 hr incubation with ribosomal RNA at room temperature.
Filtration Sterility USP <71>
Quadruple-stage 0.1 µm / 0.04 µm membrane filtration is applied to guard against mycoplasma and other subvisible contamination.
pH Verification USP <791>
Each lot is verified to pH 7.4 prior to release.
Documentation / CoA
A Certificate of Analysis is available for each lot upon request.
How DCP-GASC4X compares
A side-by-side look at DCP-GASC4X against conventional single-pass filtered fixative buffers.
| Parameter | DCP-GASC4X (FluxMPS™) | Conventional Fixative (0.22 µm filtered) | Standard Alternative (0.22 µm filtered) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formulation | 4% Glutaraldehyde / 0.1 M Sodium Cacodylate, pH 7.4 | Variable glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde blend | Variable buffer system |
| Final Filtration Pore Size | 0.04 µm | 0.22 µm | 0.22 µm |
| Number of Filtration Stages | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Nuclease Testing (DNase/RNase) | check_circle | cancel | cancel |
| Ultrapure Type 1 Water Base | check_circle | cancel | cancel |
| ISO 13485 / CE Manufacturing | check_circle | cancel | cancel |
| Custom Formulation Available | check_circle | cancel | cancel |
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about DCP-GASC4X.
Supporting literature
Selected literature on glutaraldehyde fixation, cacodylate buffer chemistry, and electron microscopy sample preparation.
- Karnovsky MJ. A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol. 1965. doi:10.1083/jcb.27.2.137A
- Sabatini DD, Bensch K, Barrnett RJ. Cytochemistry and electron microscopy: the preservation of cellular ultrastructure and enzymatic activity by aldehyde fixation. J Cell Biol. 1963. doi:10.1083/jcb.17.1.19
- Hopwood D. Theoretical and practical aspects of glutaraldehyde fixation. Histochem J. 1972. doi:10.1007/BF01003278
- Glauert AM, Lewis PR. Biological Specimen Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy. doi:10.1515/9780691214333
- Kiernan JA. Formaldehyde, formalin, paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde: what they are and what they do. Microsc Today. 2000. doi:10.1017/S1551929500057060
- de Boer P, Hoogenboom JP, Giepmans BN. Correlated light and electron microscopy: ultrastructure lights up. Nat Methods. 2015. doi:10.1038/nmeth.3400
- Migneault I, Dartiguenave C, Bertrand MJ, Waldron KC. Glutaraldehyde: behavior in aqueous solution, reaction with proteins, and application to enzyme crosslinking. Biotechniques. 2004. doi:10.2144/04375RV01
- Ingram M, Techy GB, Saroufeem R, et al. Tissue engineered tumor models: preparation for correlative microscopy. Microsc Res Tech. 2010. doi:10.1002/jemt.20745
- Razavi R, Layden B, Zorlutuna P. Fixation and imaging of engineered tissues and organ-on-chip devices for structural analysis. Lab Chip. 2019. doi:10.1039/C9LC00432G
- Uphoff CC, Drexler HG. Detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures. Curr Protoc Mol Biol. 2014. doi:10.1002/0471142727.mb2804s106
