Guanidine Thiocyanate in RNA Lysis Buffers and COVID-19 Research Guanidine thiocyanate chemical structure With COVID-19 ever present on our minds, viral research is being focused on now more than anything else. We at AG Scientific have remained open to meet the needs of the research community and are stocking chemical agents such as guanidine thiocyanate.  Read on to learn more...

Tunicamycin: ER Stress Inducer When we hear the terms cell death and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, what first comes to mind?  3D illustration of protein folding Stress? Death? Two concepts that don’t exactly inspire positive thoughts.  However, in the case of the antibiotic compound tunicamycin, cell death and ER stress are the objectives.  What is Tunicamycin? Tunicamycin is an antibiotic...

Ruthenium: Applications in Medical & Energy Technologies Ruthenium is used as a catalyst, in addition to being one of the rarest metals on the planet. It speeds up chemical processes with precision and aides in electrochemical energy technologies as well as renewable energy conversions. It is mainly found with platinum in small amounts around the world, and for being so...

Tips for Selecting Biological Detergents Biological detergents are chemicals classified as surfactants, or surface-active molecules. Research scientists typically use these detergents in affecting the interactions within molecules of a biological sample being studied. These surfactants are used in biochemical research to target and manipulate the structure of membrane proteins without sacrificing their integrity or impacting their original function. Membrane proteins...

Potassium Oxalate is a Super Agent No we aren’t talking James Bond here. However one of potassium oxalate's uses is as a chelating agent that bonds to heavy metals in the bloodstream and is effective in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning. It is also used to quantify, purify, strip, and bleach different target materials and compounds, among other useful...

Sodium Ionophores for Ion Selective Electrodes Sodium (Na) is an essential element found in our bodies. It is responsible for muscle and nerve function, and the balance of water levels in cells. The element is the most common alkali metal and is widely used across various industries. It exhibits a silvery white appearance and is naturally abundant in compounds. Sodium...

Paper-Based Biosensors: Effective and Efficient There has been a recent shift in research science and medical communities towards the use of efficient, cost effective biosensors that can test for food and water contamination, monitor biological processes in humans, determine accurate medical diagnoses, and more. Paper-based biosensors are of particular interest. Researchers and medical professionals alike need safe and less costly...

Hypoxanthine and its Food and Disease Applications Enhancing the taste and measuring the freshness of meat, a substrate with which enzymes react in order to test for the presence of malaria…what do these two things have in common? Hypoxanthine! In this article we will discuss the multitude of uses for the substrate known as hypoxanthine as well as xanthine oxidase...

Electrochemical Processes for Treating Water and Why it Matters Photo by Pok Rie, Pexels As the Earth’s population grows at an unprecedented rate, it is vital to ensure we invest in improving access and removing barriers to clean water, and that includes increasing the use of electrochemistry for water remediation. Scientists have determined that in line with our current population...

Advances in Lab-on-a-Chip Technology Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology is a category of research microdevices that automate several lab techniques in one chip; in this case a chip typically measured at a few square centimeters. In addition, currently on trend are nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (a popular choice due to the chemical stability and strength of the material), used in the...