Chemical Sciences: A Manual for CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test for Lectureship and JRF/DiI


DiI is a hydrophobic and lipophilic cyanine dye used for scientific purposes, such as single molecule imaging, Fate mapping, and neuronal tracing (as it is retained in the lipid bilayers). Its chemical name is 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3'3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate, the chemical formula is C59H89ClN2O4

Cultured embryonal carcinoma were stained with either DiI (red) or DiO (green). The image was captured by scanning confocal microscopy.