A dissociation agent is a substance or a mixture of substances that is used to break down or dissociate cell aggregates or tissue samples into single-cell suspensions. The dissociation process is essential for many downstream applications such as cell culture, flow cytometry, single-cell sequencing, and immunohistochemistry.
There are many different types of dissociation agents, and the choice of agent depends on the type of tissue or cells being dissociated. Common dissociation agents include enzymes such as trypsin, collagenase, and dispase, which can break down the extracellular matrix and facilitate the separation of cells. Other agents like EDTA or ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) are used as chelators to break the calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesions.
The selection of a dissociation agent and the concentration used should be optimized based on the specific application and the properties of the cells or tissue being dissociated. It’s important to use appropriate care and protocols while working with dissociation agents, as they can be harmful to cells and tissues if not used properly.