HEPES is a zwitterionic organic chemical buffering agent; one of the twelve Good's buffers. HEPES is widely used in cell culture largely because it is better at maintaining physiological pH despite changes in carbon dioxide concentration (produced by cellular respiration) when compared to bicarbonate buffers, which are also commonly used in cell culture. It's dissociation decreases as the temperature decreases which makes it a more effective buffering agent for maintaining enzyme structure and function at low temperatures.
HEPES has been utilized extensively for research and commercial applications in the cell culture and tissue culture industries. It is used as a binding buffer. HEPES has been described as one of the best all-purpose buffers available for biological research. At most biological pHs the molecule is zwitterionic, and is most effective as a buffer at pH 6.8 to 8.2 (pKa-1, as a general rule). HEPES has been used in a wide variety of applications, including tissue culture.
Purity: >98.0%
Key Applications: Buffer
Application Areas: Cell Biology & Analysis
Product Type: Biochemicals
Biochemical Category: Buffers
Chemical Class: Buffers
Presentation: White Powder
Format: Crystalline, Sodium Salt
pH: 9.5 - 10.8(1% aq soln). Useful pH range 6.8 - 8.2
pKa: 7.55 at 25°C
Loss on Drying: <3.0%
Storage & Handling: Room Temperature