محلول استاندارد سالین سیترات (6X – SSC)

Standard Saline Citrate Solution (6× SSC) is a widely used buffer in molecular biology designed to provide a high-salt, buffered environment for nucleic acid hybridization and membrane washing techniques.

🏭⚗️ Production
This solution is prepared by dissolving 87.6 grams of sodium chloride (NaCl) and 44.1 grams of trisodium citrate dihydrate (C₆H₅Na₃O₇·2H₂O) in one liter of distilled water. The pH of the solution is adjusted to 7.0 using hydrochloric acid to create a stable buffering environment. After preparation, the solution is sterilized by filtration and stored at room temperature.

🔬 Properties
The 6× SSC solution is clear, colorless, and contains high concentrations of sodium ions and citrate, which provide both ionic strength and buffering capacity. It maintains a neutral pH and supports the annealing of complementary nucleic acid strands during hybridization. The “6×” refers to six times the ionic strength of the standard 1× SSC solution.

🧪 Applications
This solution is primarily used in molecular biology techniques such as Southern blotting, Northern blotting, and in situ hybridization. It facilitates the hybridization of DNA and RNA probes to target sequences on membranes and is also used during washing steps to control stringency.

⚠️ Safety
Although this solution is generally safe to handle under standard laboratory conditions, direct contact with eyes or skin should be avoided. Use of gloves, lab coat, and safety goggles is recommended. The solution should be used in a well-ventilated space, and waste must be disposed of according to institutional chemical safety regulations.