Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) is formulated to preserve the structural and physiological integrity of cells in vitro.
Saline solutions serve multiple purposes:
– They act as transport, dilution, and irrigation solutions to maintain osmotic pressure both inside and outside cells.
– When combined with a sugar such as glucose, they provide the primary source of energy for cellular metabolism.
– They function as buffer solutions to keep the medium within physiological pH conditions (7.2-7.6).
The formulation of HBSS includes calcium and magnesium.
