Merck, N3013-1G, Nile Red

General description
Nile Red is a lipophilic fluorescent benzophenoxazone dye that is metachromatic and solvatochromic. It is an uncharged hydrophobic molecule with the ability to stain and visualize lipid droplets in cells and tissues. It functions as a fluorescent probe for intracellular lipids and hydrophobic domains of proteins. This dye is fluorescent in all organic solvents. Its fluorescence colors range from golden yellow to deep red.
Application
Nile red is widely employed in studies related to lipid metabolism, lipid droplet dynamics, lipid accumulation in cells or tissues, and lipid-based drug delivery systems. Its other applications include:identification of microplastics in routine analysis of biological samples.
detection of lysosomes and lysosome-related organelles, like gut granules in C. elegans intestinal cells.
it exhibits strong fluorescence enhancement and is used for staining SDS (sodium dodecyl sulphate) gels.

Biochem/physiol Actions
Nile Red is lipophilic in nature and exploits the hydrophobic properties of molecules such as lipids and plastics that fluoresce when excited with certain wavelengths, facilitating quantification and identification.