Name: 5α-Cholestan-3β-ol
Brand: Molecular Depot
SKU: B2018193
Price: 695.00 USD
Availability: InStock

<h2>What are research lipids and lipid derivatives?</h2>
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Research lipids and lipid derivatives are purified, characterized lipid compounds used in experimental settings: glycerophospholipids such as DPPC, DSPC, POPC, and DPPE that form the backbone of biological membranes and lipid formulations; fatty acids including saturated, unsaturated, and hydroxylated variants; sterols particularly cholesterol and its derivatives that regulate membrane fluidity; sphingolipids involved in signaling and membrane microdomains; and specialty lipids including ionizable lipids, PEG-lipids, and fluorescently labeled analogs for drug delivery and membrane dynamics research.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
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Transfection-Grade Lipids: High-efficiency lipid compounds optimized for nucleic acid encapsulation and seamless cell membrane delivery.
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Structural Phospholipids: Pure membrane components tailored for preparing synthetic lipid bilayers and investigating cell signaling cascades.
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Functionalized Lipid Derivatives: Chemically modified lipid chains prepared for targeted conjugation and molecular tracking assays.
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High-Purity Fatty Acids: Refined metabolic substrates used for nutritional profiling and cellular growth optimization studies.
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<h2>How to choose research lipids</h2>
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Choose phospholipids based on head group chemistry and acyl chain saturation
Phosphatidylcholine lipids like DPPC (saturated, high Tm) and POPC (unsaturated, low Tm) are the most commonly used structural phospholipids for liposome formulation; the choice of acyl chain saturation determines the gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature (Tm), which controls membrane fluidity at physiological temperature.
Use cholesterol to modulate membrane fluidity and vesicle stability
Cholesterol at 30&ndash;50 mol% in a phospholipid bilayer reduces membrane permeability, increases bilayer rigidity above the lipid's Tm, and decreases it below the Tm, producing a liquid-ordered phase that is more stable and less permeable than either pure gel or liquid-crystalline phase membranes. It is a standard component of stable liposome and lipid nanoparticle formulations.
Include ionizable lipids for pH-responsive nucleic acid delivery
Ionizable lipids are neutral at physiological pH but become cationic at the acidic endosomal pH encountered after cell uptake, facilitating endosomal membrane disruption and cytoplasmic release of encapsulated RNA. Their pKa, which should be approximately 6.2&ndash;6.5 for optimal endosomal escape efficiency, is a critical formulation parameter.
Add PEG-lipids to control particle size and reduce non-specific interactions
A PEG-lipid (polyethylene glycol conjugated to a lipid anchor) incorporated at 1.5&ndash;2.5 mol% in a lipid nanoparticle reduces particle aggregation, controls final particle size during formulation, and provides a stealth coating that reduces non-specific protein adsorption and extends circulation time in vivo.
Use fluorescent lipid analogs for membrane dynamics and trafficking studies
Fluorescently labeled phospholipid analogs incorporating dyes at the head group or acyl chain position can be incorporated into membranes or cells to track lipid movement, measure membrane fluidity, study lipid raft formation, and follow intracellular lipid trafficking by fluorescence microscopy.
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<h2>Specifications context</h2>
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The acyl chain composition of a phospholipid determines its gel-to-liquid crystalline transition temperature (Tm): DPPC with two C16:0 saturated chains has a Tm of approximately 41&deg;C, while POPC with one C16:0 and one C18:1 unsaturated chain has a Tm well below 0&deg;C, meaning POPC membranes are in the fluid phase at physiological temperature while DPPC membranes are in the gel phase. As of 2026, lipid nanoparticle formulation research continues to be driven by advances in ionizable lipid chemistry and optimization of lipid-to-RNA molar ratios for organ-specific delivery.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the helpful team at MBP</a> today to request a quote for your specific research requirements.

Lipids & Lipid Derivatives

Molecular Depot

Key Specifications

5α-Cholestan-3β-ol

5α-Cholestan-3β-ol, catalog B2018193, is a saturated sterol (also known as cholestanol, dihydrocholesterol), with typical uses including internal standard for GC sterol analysis and membrane sterol research. Available from MBP, a registered vendor at leading US research institutions.