Dextran Application Area

Vaccines: Dextran can be part of vaccines as a carrier, a back-bone and/or as a stabilizer of the antigen or other subunits. Derivatives of dextran in particular DEAE-dextran are often also used.

Dextran Product commonly used in Vaccines are Dextran 1, Dextran 10, Dextran 40 and Dextran 70.

Eye: Dextran is often used in eye drops or similar solution for ophthalmic application. Dextran can be used as the active ingredient in eye drops due to its lubricating nature or as tear-replacement. This application is used to relieve dry, irritated eyes. Common causes for dry eyes include wind, sun, heating/air conditioning, computer use/reading, and certain medications. Furthermore dextran can also be used in eye drops with a medicating component.

Pharmaceutical Quality Dextran 40, Dextran 60 and Dextran 70 solutions are commonly used in ophthalmic products.

Protein Stabilization: The dextran molecule is known to benefit on structural stability of freeze-dried products, protein stability and the recovery of enzyme activity after freeze-drying.

Dextran Product commonly used in Protein Stabilization are Dextran 1, Dextran 5, Dextran 10, Dextran 40 and Dextran 70.

Lyophilization: Lyophilization is a commonly used technique for formulation development of small molecules, proteins and vaccines which are unstable in aqueous medium and/or are thermolabile in nature. Lyophilization of drug alone, however, presents certain formulation development challenges, which may be overcome by incorporation of excipients in the formulation. Dextran is often used as excipient during lyophilization as a bulking agent and/or a collapse temperature modifier.

Different fractions of dextran have been used for Lyophilization e.g. Dextran 1, Dextran 10, Dextran 40 and Dextran 70.

Cryopreservation: Dextran can be used as a cryo-protectant in combination with DSMO, glycerol etc. Dextrans can be used to cryo-preserve cell lines, stem cell preparations and biological samples in general. It is believed these cryo-protectants contributes to a more controlled formation of ice crystals which leads to lesser damage to cell membranes and organelles.

The most commonly used Dextran for cryopreservation is Dextran 40, but many other Dextrans are used e.g. Dextran 10 and Dextran 70.

Organ Preservation: Dextran is widely accepted as solution for storing and preparing organs for transplantation. Traditionally Corneas has been stored and/or prepared for transplantation dextran, but now a multitude of different organs and tissues are being stored in dextran solution for increased longevity or dextran are used in preparation prior to transplantation.

Dextran Product commonly used in Organ Preservation are Dextran 1, Dextran 40 and Dextran 70.

Oral Application: Dextran has a wide use in oral pharmaceuticals. Dextran is applied for solidity and consistency of substance during processing e.g. freeze drying. Dextran can also be used to alter the dissolution profile of drug formulations.

Dextran Product used in Oral Products are Dextran 1, Dextran 5, Dextran 10, Dextran 40 and Dextran 70.

Blood Cell Separation: Dextran can be applied in the reversible aggregation of human red blood cells, yet the mechanistic details governing the process are still being explored. The process is useful for separation of red blood cells from other cells and components of the blood.

Dextran Product used in Blood Cell Seperation is Dextran 70.

Blood Volume Expander: Intravenous solutions with dextran function both as volume expanders and means of parenteral nutrition. Such a solution provides an osmotically neutral fluid that once in the body is digested by cells into glucose and free water. It is occasionally used to replace lost blood in emergency situations, when replacement blood is not available. Dextran 1 in combination with higher molecular weight dextran has a long and well-documented history as a safer API than e.g. HES for infusion fluids.

Dextran 1, Dextran 40 and Dextran 70 solutions are commonly used volume expander products.