Merck, 198161-5G, Toluidine Blue O

General description
A metachromatic dye suitable for a wide variety of histological staining procedures.
Application
Toluidine Blue O along with light-emitting diode has been used as a photosensitizer to control in vitro biofilms and to kill gram-negative bacteria.
Certified for use as a metachromatic stain for mast cells and cartilage using the Churukian-Schenk method and the method of Nocht on paraffin sections.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Toluidine Blue O (TBO) is a thiazine dye of the quinone-imine family and is cationic in nature. It has been employed in polychromatic staining of paraffin embedded plant cell walls. TBO can be removed from its aqueous solution by using an effective adsorbent, clinoptilolite. TBO and fixed output laboratory laser light source are used together to destroy variety of oral bacteria associated with dental caries. This metachromatic nuclear stain is often used in place of thionin or methylene blue. It also serves as a component of a tribasic stain along with Malachite Greenand Basic Fuchsin.