The cell-impermeant, fixable, polar tracer Cascade Blue™ hydrazide can be used to investigate cell-cell and cell-liposome fusion as well as membrane permeability and transport through gap junctions or cell uptake during pinocytosis. This water-soluble tracer can be introduced into cells by whole-cell patch clamping, iontophoresis, osmotic lysis of pinocytic vesicles or comparable methods. Additionally, carboxylic acids of proteins and other water-soluble biopolymers can be coupled to this molecule in aqueous solution using water-soluble carbodiimides such as EDAC (Cat. No. E2247).

To make a concentrated stock solution, dissolve in H₂O up to ∼1% (w/v). Store frozen and protected from light.