Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) is formulated to preserve the structural and physiological integrity of cells in vitro.
Saline solutions serve several functions:
– Acting as transport, dilution, and irrigation solutions to maintain osmotic pressure both inside and outside cells.
– Providing the primary source of energy for cellular metabolism when combined with a sugar such as glucose.
– Serving as buffer solutions to maintain the medium within physiological pH conditions (7.2-7.6).
HBSS without calcium and magnesium is often used to wash and resuspend cells during the dissociation process, as calcium and magnesium can inhibit enzymatic activity, such as trypsin.
This formulation of HBSS does not include calcium, magnesium, or phenol red.
