- Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a highly versatile organosulfur compound with a wide range of applications across scientific, medical, industrial, and agricultural fields. Its distinctive molecular structure—a small, polar aprotic molecule—gives it remarkable solubilizing capabilities and the ability to penetrate biological membranes, dissolve both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds, and serve as a vehicle for drug and chemical delivery. These properties make DMSO an indispensable tool in research and practical applications, albeit one that must be used with care due to potential toxicities.
- In medicine and biomedical research, DMSO is widely used for its penetrative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties. Clinically, it is approved in some countries for treating interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder condition, where DMSO is instilled directly into the bladder to reduce inflammation and pain. Its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects have also prompted its use in topical formulations for joint and muscle pain, though its use for this purpose is more common in veterinary than human medicine.
- In pharmaceutical research, DMSO serves primarily as a solvent and carrier. Its ability to dissolve a vast array of compounds makes it ideal for preparing drug stock solutions, especially for poorly water-soluble molecules. It is routinely used in cell culture experiments to deliver test compounds, though at concentrations usually below 0.1–1% to avoid cytotoxic effects. Moreover, DMSO is crucial in cryopreservation, where it functions as a cryoprotectant to preserve cells, tissues, and embryos by preventing ice crystal formation during freezing and thawing processes.
- Owing to its high permeability through skin and mucosal membranes, DMSO is often employed in transdermal drug delivery systems. It enhances the absorption of various pharmaceuticals through the skin and is used in experimental formulations to improve the bioavailability of certain drugs. Its ability to transport small molecules into cells has also made it a key ingredient in experimental and targeted delivery strategies, such as in nanoparticle and liposomal drug delivery platforms. However, due to its strong ability to carry not just drugs but also harmful substances, its medical use is tightly regulated.
- In the chemical industry, DMSO is widely used as a polar aprotic solvent in a variety of organic reactions, including oxidations, nucleophilic substitutions, and polymerizations. Its high boiling point (189°C), low toxicity (compared to other polar solvents), and chemical stability under a range of conditions make it suitable for reactions requiring elevated temperatures. It is used in the manufacture of polymers, agrochemicals, dyes, and electronic materials. DMSO also serves as a paint stripper, degreaser, and cleaning agent in specialized industrial settings.
- In agriculture, DMSO has been explored as a carrier for pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, enhancing their translocation into plant tissues. It also acts as a solubilizer and penetrant, facilitating the uniform distribution of agrochemicals and improving their bioavailability. Experimental studies have investigated its role in alleviating abiotic stress in plants, such as cold or oxidative stress, due to its antioxidant-like effects. In veterinary medicine, DMSO is used topically to treat musculoskeletal injuries, inflammation, and swelling in animals.
- DMSO is a staple reagent in scientific research. It is essential in cryobiology for freezing and storing cells (e.g., stem cells, sperm, oocytes), where it helps maintain cell viability by preventing intracellular ice formation.
- In molecular biology, it is used to improve PCR amplification by destabilizing secondary structures in DNA templates. In biochemistry and pharmacology, DMSO serves as a carrier solvent for high-throughput screening, enabling the evaluation of compound libraries against biological targets.
