China Wuhan Desheng Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd Company News

In life science research and biopharmaceutical production, the pH stability of cell culture environment directly affects the growth status, metabolic activity, and reliability of experimental results of cells. The traditional bicarbonate/CO ₂ buffer system, although widely used, heavily relies on the sealed environment of the CO ₂ incubator. Once the lid is opened, it can cause severe pH fluctuations. 4-Hydroxyethylpiperazine ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), as a zwitterionic organic chemical buffer, has become an indispensable core reagent in the field of cell culture due to its unique chemical structure and excellent buffering performance.   This article elaborates on the technical connotation and industrial value of HEPES cell culture buffer from the dimensions of chemical principles and buffering characteristics, providing reference for researchers and production enterprises in the selection and quality control of buffer systems.   1.Chemical Structure and Buffer Principle 1 Molecular Basic Information HEPES, The full name is N - (2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-N '- (2-ethylsulfonic acid), with a CAS number of 7365-45-9, a molecular formula of C ₈ H ₁₈ N ₂ O ₄ S, and a molecular weight of 238.30 g/mol. The product is a white crystalline powder that is easily soluble in water.   2 Chemical structural characteristics The molecular structure of HEPES contains three key functional groups: Piperazine ring: Provides zwitterionic properties, capable of accepting protons (as bases) and releasing protons (as acids), serving as the chemical basis for buffering capacity. Ethanesulfonic acid group: endows molecules with good water solubility and biocompatibility, ensuring electrical neutrality within the physiological pH range. Hydroxyethyl side chains: increase the hydrophilicity of molecules, improve solubility in aqueous solutions, and reduce permeability to biofilms.   3 Buffer mechanism The buffering capacity of HEPES comes from the balance between protonation and deprotonation of nitrogen atoms on the piperazine ring. When the pH of the system increases (tends to be alkaline), sulfonic acid groups can provide hydrogen ions; When the pH of the system decreases (tends to be acidic), the tertiary amine group can accept hydrogen ions. This process does not rely on carbon dioxide or bicarbonate systems, so pH stability can be maintained in an open culture environment.   The pKa value of HEPES is approximately 7.48 at 25 ° C and 7.31 at 37 ° C, with an effective buffering range of pH 6.8 to 8.2. This range precisely covers the optimal growth pH environment for most mammalian cells (7.2-7.4), and within this range, the buffering capacity of HEPES is much higher than that of phosphate or carbonate buffer solutions. 2.Core buffering characteristics 2.1 Buffer capacity independent of CO ₂ The most significant advantage of HEPES is that its buffering capacity is independent of CO ₂ concentration. The traditional bicarbonate buffer system relies on a CO ₂ incubator to maintain pH balance. Once the cells are separated from the incubator for bottle partitioning, passaging, or microscopic observation, the pH will fluctuate dramatically due to changes in CO ₂ concentration. HEPES buffer medium can resist rapid changes in pH in an open environment, providing reliable pH protection for open cell operations.   2.2 Excellent temperature stability Unlike Tris and other buffer solutions, the pKa value of HEPES varies minimally with temperature (Δ pKa/° C is approximately -0.014). HEPES can maintain stable buffering capacity within the experimental temperature range of 4 ° C to 37 ° C. This characteristic enables it to maintain the structure and function of enzymes well even under low temperature conditions, making it suitable for temperature sensitive biochemical experimental systems.   3 .Low metal ion chelating ability HEPES is not easily chelated or precipitated with divalent cations such as calcium and magnesium. This characteristic makes it perform well in culture systems containing high concentrations of divalent cations (such as media containing calcium and magnesium), and does not interfere with enzyme activity dependent on metal ions.   4. Low cell membrane permeability HEPES has low cell membrane permeability and has little effect on cell activity and metabolism at commonly used working concentrations (10-25 mM). Its zwitterionic structure ensures good water solubility under physiological pH conditions and is not easily able to penetrate biofilms.   HEPES exhibits excellent pH regulation ability within the physiological pH range (6.8-8.2) due to its core characteristics such as CO ₂ - independent buffering capacity, excellent temperature stability, low metal ion chelation ability, and low cell membrane permeability. These unique physicochemical properties make it an important alternative to traditional bicarbonate buffer systems in cell culture and biochemical experiments that require precise control of acid-base environments. The cell culture grade HEPES products produced by Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. strictly control key indicators such as purity (≥ 99%), moisture, and bacterial endotoxins, and are committed to providing stable and reliable buffering solutions for scientific research and production fields. For the practical application and operational points of HEPES in specific scenarios such as cell culture, protein purification, and molecular biology, please read the sister article of this article - "Application Scenarios of HEPES Cell Culture Buffer Technology White Paper".  

A product containing Carbopol 940, from raw material input to final filling, is not a simple mixing process. The sequence, duration, and stirring intensity of each step will have an impact on the viscosity, transparency, and stability of the final system. Understanding the key nodes of Carbopol 940 in the entire formula development process can help formulators make more accurate judgments during operation, reducing rework and losses caused by step errors. Dispersion and swelling stage: Time is the first step in establishing viscosity Carbopol 940 is a white loose powder that does not dissolve immediately when added to water, but requires a thorough swelling process. The key points of operation in this stage are the selection of water quality and the control of soaking time. The use of deionized water is a common practice to ensure the full release of carbomer performance, as ion impurities in tap water may interfere with subsequent thickening effects. In terms of feeding method, it is recommended to evenly sprinkle the powder on the water surface instead of pouring it directly to avoid clumping. Subsequently, sufficient time needs to be given for the powder to fully hydrate. Different models require different soaking times, with Carbopol 940, 941, 934, and 981 requiring approximately 8 hours of soaking, while Carbopol 2020, U10, and U20 require approximately 4 hours, depending on the total amount dissolved. The operational judgment standard for this stage is to observe whether the powder is completely wetted and forms a uniform particle free dispersion system. It is not recommended to proceed to the next neutralization operation until sufficient swelling is confirmed. Neutralization and thickening stage: the core transformation node of viscosity Carbopol itself is slightly acidic and has a low viscosity when dispersed in water, requiring neutralization to activate its thickening ability. The addition of neutralizing agents ionizes the carboxyl groups on the molecular chain, generating electrostatic repulsion to stretch the chain segments, thereby forming a three-dimensional network structure that envelops a large number of water molecules, resulting in a significant increase in system viscosity at the macroscopic level. The first thing to pay attention to at this point is the type and dosage of neutralizing agents, which should be selected and controlled according to the target pH range; Next is the timing of neutralization, which should be added after the carbomer has fully swollen, and the order should not be reversed. The mixing operation in the neutralization process needs to be moderate, both to ensure that the neutralizer is evenly dispersed and to avoid excessive mechanical force consumption, because the neutralized system has formed a certain gel network, and lasting mixing or high shear mixing will cause viscosity loss. The stage of adding other components: balancing order and tolerance After completing and achieving the expected viscosity in the carbomer system, other ingredients in the formula are added, which is the recommended operating sequence in the data. The reason for this sequential arrangement is that certain components may interfere with the thickening efficiency of carbomer, and the presence of electrolytes can reduce the thickening efficiency of carbomer resin, which needs to be carefully considered in practical operations. When adding salt containing ingredients such as some active ingredients, preservatives, or plant extracts, it is recommended to gradually add them and observe the viscosity changes of the system after each step of addition, in order to adjust subsequent operations in a timely manner or evaluate whether the initial dosage of carbomer needs to be adjusted. In addition, attention should also be paid to the stirring intensity during the addition process to avoid introducing excessive shear forces in the already thickened system. In summary, in the entire process of Carbopol 940 from powder to finished product, the four key nodes of dispersion swelling, neutralization thickening, component addition, filling and storage each have their own operational points and precautions. Grasping the correct sequence, reasonable time and appropriate intensity of each stage can help the formulator to stably transfer the performance of Carbomer 940 to the final products of transparent gel, essence and cream, and reduce the uncertainty in the process. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology has built a new factory to meet market demand, and the production capacity of Carbopol has been further upgraded. For external drug and cosmetic manufacturers that rely on Carbopol 940 as an excipient, choosing stable and compliant domestic alternative raw materials has become an important strategic direction at present.  

In the field of cosmetics, the same ingredient often needs to adapt to the performance requirements of multiple dosage forms. The reason why Carbomer 940 is widely used is that it can play different roles in three mainstream products, namely transparent gel, essence and cream. Understanding its emphasis in each dosage form can help to more effectively leverage its advantages in formula design. Transparent gel: focusing on high transparency and suspension ability Transparent gel is one of the dosage forms that require high transparency of thickeners. What consumers expect to see is a clear, turbidity free gel texture, and any small turbidity or floc will affect the visual quality of the product. Carbomer 940 can form a gel network with high viscosity under the condition of 0.25% to 0.5% of the conventional dosage, while maintaining high clarity, making it a suitable choice for transparent gel matrix. In addition, many functional gel will add pearlescent, exfoliating particles or encapsulated active particles, and these insoluble components need a stable suspension system to avoid sedimentation. As an excellent suspending agent, Carbomer 940 can evenly disperse these particles in gel to ensure the consistency of components during each use. In terms of formula operation, transparent gel usually has relatively simple composition and low electrolyte content, which is conducive to giving full play to the thickening efficiency of Carbomer 940. Essence liquid: balance of fluidity and suspension stability The difference between essence liquid and gel is that it has stronger fluidity, but at the same time, it needs to maintain a certain viscosity to provide a good sense of use and the carrying capacity of active substances. Carbopol 940 can provide enough viscosity support at a low dosage. At the same time, its short rheology and thixotropy make the essence liquid show good fluidity when pouring and smearing, and can keep the system stable after standing. For essence containing insoluble functional ingredients, such as products added with particles or powder active substances, the suspension ability of Carbomer 940 can also play a role, so that these components are evenly dispersed and not easy to precipitate. It is worth noting that essence often contains a variety of extracts and functional additives, some of which may contain electrolytes. When designing the formula, attention should be paid to the influence of these components on the thickening efficiency of Carbomer 940. If necessary, the dosage of Carbomer should be properly adjusted or the addition order should be optimized. Cream: dual role of assisting emulsification and thickening In cream products, the effect of Carbopol 940 is not limited to thickening the aqueous phase. It can also act as an emulsifier at the oil-water interface to help form a stable lotion system. This dual function of thickening and emulsification makes the texture of the cream more delicate and uniform, while also helping to reduce the amount of other emulsifiers and simplify the formula structure. In the cream system, the thickening effect of Carbomer 940 is reflected in the improvement of the viscosity of the aqueous phase, which helps to delay the aggregation and stratification of oil droplets and enhance the overall stability of the lotion. In terms of skin texture, its short flow and thixotropy allow the cream to smoothly extend when applied, without producing a blocking or sticky feeling. The viscosity recovery after application also helps the active ingredients stay on the surface of the skin. General principles of use under dosage form differences Although the emphasis varies in different dosage forms, the principles of using Carbopol 940 are common across all dosage forms. Attention should be paid to the steps involved in all systems, as Carbopol itself is slightly acidic and can only exert its thickening effect after neutralization. The presence of electrolytes can reduce the thickening efficiency of carbomer resin, and salt content should be evaluated in all formulations. The neutralized system should avoid prolonged stirring or high shear treatment to prevent viscosity loss. In addition, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can reduce the viscosity of carbomer resin, and the storage conditions of various products should consider avoiding light. The standardization of swelling operation also applies to all dosage forms. The use of deionized water and ensuring sufficient soaking time are prerequisites for the full release of the properties of Carbopol 940. In a word, Carbopol 940 gives priority to its high transparency and suspension ability in transparent gel, gives consideration to the balance between fluidity and stability in essence, and plays a dual role of thickening and auxiliary emulsification in cream. Understanding the characteristics of these differentiated applications can help formulators more accurately grasp the dosage, operating points, and compounding strategies of Carbopol 940 according to the needs of different dosage forms, so that its value can be reflected in various products. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology has built a new factory to meet market demand, and the production capacity of Carbopol has been further upgraded. For external drug and cosmetic manufacturers that rely on Carbopol 940 as an excipient, choosing stable and compliant domestic alternative raw materials has become an important strategic direction at present.

The choice of buffer system in cell culture is often simplified as' HEPES or bicarbonate is better '. However, in practical work, it can be found that this question is asking the wrong direction - the relationship between the two is not substitution, but the difference between an' open system 'and an' independent system '. Only by understanding this can we explain why pH is easily lost once cells leave the incubator.   1.Bicarbonate is an 'open buffer system' The reaction of bicarbonate system is very simple: CO ₂+H ₂ O ⇌ HCO ∝⁻+H ⁺. According to the Henderson Hasselbach equation: pH=6.1+log([HCO₃⁻]/(0.03×pCO₂)) Substituting 24 mmol/L HCO ∝⁻ and 40mmHg pCO ₂, the result is pH 7.40- the ratio of alkali to acid is exactly 20:1. It is worth noting that the pKa of the system at 37 ℃ is about 6.1, which is 1.3 units away from physiological pH 7.4. According to the conventional standard of buffering agents (effective range of approximately pKa ± 1), this was originally an "inappropriate" range. It is effective because of its openness: CO ₂ can freely exchange with the environment, and its concentration is fixed by the external gas phase. The example in the literature is very intuitive - under the same acid load, the pH of the closed system will drop from 7.40 to about 6.9, while the open system where CO ₂ can escape only drops to about 7.36. 2.Incubator: CO ₂ concentration must be paired with sodium bicarbonate In the incubator, the continuous supply of CO ₂ keeps the bicarbonate system open. But the pairing relationship between the two is rigid: when the concentration of sodium bicarbonate is 2.0-3.7 g/L, the corresponding amount of CO ₂ is 5-10%. The consequences of mismatching are very direct: high sodium bicarbonate and low CO ₂, the culture medium will alkalize, and the phenol red indicator will turn pink purple; On the contrary, if it is acidic, the culture medium will turn yellow. This logic also explains the classic differentiation of equilibrium salt solutions - Earle's salts contain higher concentrations of sodium bicarbonate and are designed for use in CO ₂ environments; Hanks' salt has a low content of sodium bicarbonate and is used in atmospheric environments. The so-called "inside and outside the incubator" has long been answered in terms of the formula of the culture medium.   3.Outside the incubator: HEPES provides a "gas independent" buffering capacity HEPES has a pKa of approximately 7.5 (25 ℃), closely adheres to physiological pH, has an effective buffering range of 6.8-8.2, and is characterized by membrane impermeability, limited impact on biochemical reactions, and extremely low visible and ultraviolet absorption. The key difference is that the buffering capacity of HEPES does not depend on gas-phase CO ₂. Therefore, when cells need to operate for extended periods of time in the incubator - such as changing the medium, washing, sorting, transporting, and microscopic observation - adding HEPES can compensate for the buffering capacity lost by bicarbonate. The general addition amount given in the manufacturer's technical data is 10-25 mM.   4.Four practical points for combined use PH loss of control may not necessarily be due to selecting the wrong buffer, but more commonly it is due to incorrect combination methods HEPES buffer should not be used only in the incubator. There is literature that clearly suggests that CO ₂ incubators are not suitable for media buffered solely with HEPES; When HEPES is 20mM, it is recommended that sodium bicarbonate not exceed 10mM. If HEPES is used, sodium bicarbonate needs to be downregulated. Taking the preparation of DMEM under 5% CO ₂ conditions as an example: without HEPES, sodium bicarbonate is about 3.7 g/L, and after adding 25mM HEPES, it needs to be reduced to about 2.2 g/L. HEPES need to avoid light. The culture medium containing HEPES may generate hydrogen peroxide under strong light exposure, which can cause phototoxicity. Direct light should be avoided during operation. Pay attention to osmotic pressure. Adding HEPES in the form of sodium salt will increase osmotic pressure, and most mammalian cells can tolerate 260-350 mOsm/kg. It is recommended to conduct actual testing and review after adjusting the formula.   5.IVD perspective: Carbonate systems have another identity In IVD reagents, the role of carbonate bicarbonate buffer is completely different from that of cell culture - it is a commonly used choice for ELISA coating buffer. In standard and specification documents such as WS/T 792-2021, GB/T 43159, SN/T 5479, the formula for 0.05 mol/L and pH 9.6 carbonate buffer solution is highly consistent: 1.59g sodium carbonate and 2.93g sodium bicarbonate, with a constant volume of 1000mL. The emphasis here is not on physiological pH, but on the alkaline environment that facilitates protein adsorption onto the surface of polystyrene boards through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Interestingly, the washing solution and enzyme labeled diluent in the same set of standards returned to the Tris buffer system (TBST). Inside a test kit, there are often several buffer systems that perform their respective functions simultaneously - this is also the reason why IVD raw materials typically require multi category supply capabilities.   6.After selection, the consistency of raw materials remains the same The ratio of the buffer system belongs to formula design, and when it comes to the product, the ultimate test is the consistency of the raw material batch. Taking HEPES as an example, purity, impurity spectrum, moisture, and residual metal ions all contribute to the stability of the culture medium and reagents. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Wuhan Desheng Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd. established in 2005) has long been dedicated to the research and production of biological buffering agents and related fine chemicals. Its product system covers more than 50 models such as HEPES, Tris, MOPS, Bicine, CAPS, etc., and can provide supply and index customization from gram to ton levels. The company's headquarters is located in Guanggu United Science and Technology City, Gedian Development Zone, Ezhou, Hubei Province. It has two R&D and production bases in Gedian and Huanggang (70 acres), with an annual production capacity of 5000 tons for all categories. Its products are used in IVD in vitro diagnostics, biomedicine, and daily chemical industries.  

The selection of biological buffering agents directly affects the stability of experiments and products in cell culture, cell cryopreservation, and in vitro diagnostic (IVD) reagent preparation. HEPES and Tris are two types of high-frequency buffer systems that are not interchangeable, but have their own applicable boundaries. This article starts from the molecular structure and physicochemical properties, and summarizes the differences and typical scenarios between the two. 1.Why buffering agents are worth pondering The sensitivity of cells to pH is often underestimated. The optimal environment for mammalian cells is usually pH 7.2-7.4, and a deviation of 0.2 units may affect the adhesion state, metabolic rate, and surface marker expression. The responsibility of buffering agents is to stabilize this range. The traditional bicarbonate (NaHCO3/CO ₂) system has low cost and strong physiological relevance, but relies on a 5% CO ₂ incubator. Once cells leave the incubator - through liquid exchange, washing, sorting, transportation, and pre freezing treatment - the release of CO ₂ will cause a rapid increase in pH. This is precisely why Good's buffers such as HEPES and MOPS enter the cell culture system. 2.The molecular structure determines their 'personality' HEPES (4-hydroxyethylpiperazine ethanesulfonic acid) is a zwitterionic buffering agent that contains both a basic piperazine ring and an acidic sulfonic acid group. Its net charge is close to neutral at physiological pH. Its pKa is about 7.5 (25 ℃), with an effective buffering range of 6.8-8.2, which precisely covers the physiological range of cell growth. Tris (trihydroxymethylaminomethane) is a primary amine weak base with a pKa of approximately 8.06 (25 ℃) and an effective buffering range of 7.0-9.0. It has a simple structure and controllable cost, and is one of the buffering agents with a large dosage in molecular biology laboratories. The structural differences directly lead to the following four quantifiable practical differences. 3.Differences in Four Dimensions 3.1  Temperature stability. The pKa temperature coefficient of HEPES is about -0.014/℃, and Tris is about -0.028 to -0.031/℃, which is about twice that of the former. In practical operation, the performance is as follows: adjust Tris buffer to pH 8.0 at 25 ℃, and after cooling to 4 ℃ in the cold chamber, the measured pH will significantly increase, and then decrease again at 37 ℃; However, HEPES has a pKa of approximately 7.3-7.4 at 37 ℃, still closely following the physiological range. Cell experiments that require cross temperature manipulation are particularly sensitive to this. 3.2  Membrane permeability and metal ion binding. HEPES has strong polarity and is not easily able to penetrate the cell membrane; The binding ability with divalent metal ions such as Mg ² ⁺ and Ca ² ⁺ is very low, and it does not seize the cofactors required for enzyme reactions. Tris, as a primary amine, can form complexes with some metal ions and may also react with aldehydes and some crosslinking agents. Additional verification is required when metal dependent enzymes or specific labeling systems are involved. 3.3  Testing system compatibility. HEPES has limited impact on biochemical reactions, with extremely low absorption of visible and ultraviolet light, and minimal interference in spectrophotometric and enzymatic assays. It is not without its shortcomings - free radicals may be generated under light exposure, photosensitive cell lines and redox related research require light avoidance operations, and raw material costs are also higher than Tris. Tris may cause interference in some protein quantification methods, and the tolerance limits of different detection kit formulations vary greatly. It is recommended to verify the specific method before use. 3.4   Dependence on CO ₂. Both belong to non bicarbonate systems and can be separated from the incubator to maintain pH. This is also the core reason why they supplement bicarbonate systems in cell washing solutions, sorting buffers, and transport preservation solutions. 4.Scene determines selection Cell culture and cell processing: Serum free culture medium, cell cryopreservation solution, washing solution, flow cytometry buffer, as well as in vitro operation of cell therapy products such as CAR-T and stem cells, the physiological pH matching and low membrane permeability of HEPES are more compatible. Molecular diagnosis and protein research: Nucleic acid extraction and amplification buffer, electrophoresis buffer system (TAE/TBE), SDS-PAGE, protein purification, Tris buffer range and cost advantages are more prominent. IVD reagents: Tris is often used as the main buffering agent in systems such as chemiluminescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay dilutions; When the reagent system is sensitive to metal ions or requires stricter pH stability, HEPES has an advantage. In reality, the two often coexist in the same process - HEPES for upstream cell processing and Tris for downstream detection. The premise of being "superior" is always "in what context". 5.After selection: Consistency of raw materials is the long-term variable The fluctuation of reagent performance often comes not from the formula, but from the differences in raw material batches. The purity, impurity spectrum, moisture, and residual metal ions of the buffer will all be transmitted to the stability of the final product. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Wuhan Desheng Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd. established in 2005) has long been dedicated to the research and production of biological buffering agents and related fine chemicals. Its product system covers more than 50 models such as Tris, HEPES, MOPS, Bicine, CAPS, etc., and can provide supply and index customization from gram to ton levels. The company's headquarters is located in Guanggu United Science and Technology City, Gedian Development Zone, Ezhou, Hubei Province. It has two R&D and production bases in Gedian and Huanggang (70 acres), with an annual production capacity of 5000 tons for all categories. Its products are used in IVD in vitro diagnostics, biomedicine, and daily chemical industries. HEPES and Tris are not a binary choice. By understanding the four underlying parameters of pKa, temperature coefficient, membrane permeability, and compatibility, and comparing them with one's own process temperature, cell type, and detection system, the answer usually emerges on its own. For the raw material side, regardless of which one is chosen, stable supply and consistent batch quality are the prerequisites for the formula to be stably reproduced.

In discussions on cell culture, HEPES is often described as "low toxicity". This statement is correct in direction, but it can easily be misinterpreted as "no upper limit" - in actual work, if the three things of concentration, light, and osmotic pressure are not handled properly, the experimental results will still deviate. 1.Widely cited safety intervals The general recommendation given by Desheng is 10-25 mM, which can be used to supplement buffering capacity when operating outside the incubator. The common formulas for commercially available culture media also fall within this range: for example, DMEM/F-12 often contains 15mM, and DMEM often contains 25mM. The reason why this interval is repeatedly quoted is that it satisfies two conditions simultaneously: the buffer capacity is sufficient to cope with pH fluctuations in conventional operations, while the additional osmotic pressure introduced is still within the acceptable range of the cell. 2.Where does the upper limit of concentration come from There are three main reasons why the concentration cannot be infinitely increased. 1. Osmotic pressure. This is the most direct one. Adding HEPES in the form of free acid, alkali, or sodium salt will increase the osmotic pressure of the solution. The tolerance range of most mammalian cells is between 260-350mOsm/kg. The higher the concentration, the more amount needs to be deducted from NaCl or NaHCO3, and the less room for adjusting the formula. 2. Phototoxicity. This is an easily overlooked point. HEPES can generate reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide under visible light irradiation, especially in the presence of riboflavin in the culture medium. Therefore, the culture medium containing HEPES needs to be stored and handled away from light; For experiments with long-term light imaging, it is suggested to use MOPS system or adopt methods such as reducing light intensity and adding reactive oxygen species scavengers. 3. Direct effects of high concentration. Technical data suggests that when the concentration exceeds 40 mM, some cell lines may experience inhibited proliferation and morphological changes. It should be clarified that there are significant cell line differences in the sensitivity of such effects, and not all cells are the same, nor is there a universal "toxicity threshold". 3.Why does the conclusion of 'toxicity' always seem vague When consulting relevant materials, it can be found that the conclusions about the cytotoxicity of HEPES are often inconsistent. This is not a matter of data quality, but rather a significant difference in the experimental conditions themselves: Different cell types: The tolerance of tumor cell lines to primary cells and stem cells can differ significantly Different lighting conditions: exposure time and light intensity directly affect the generation of reactive oxygen species Different components of the culture medium: the content of photosensitive components such as riboflavin is a key variable Different exposure durations: short-term operations of a few hours versus long-term cultivation of several days, conclusions cannot be directly compared Different endpoints are determined: proliferation inhibition, morphological changes, apoptosis, metabolic activity, measuring different things Therefore, when seeing the conclusion that "a certain concentration is toxic to a certain cell", one should first confirm whether its experimental conditions are comparable to their own system. 4.Determine the working concentration for one's own cells Instead of using other people's numbers, a more reliable approach is to conduct a small-scale gradient experiment: Set gradients: 0, 10, 15, 20, 25mM (if you want to explore the upper limit, you can add a 40mM group) Unified pH: Adjust the final pH of all groups to be consistent (such as 7.4) to avoid misjudging pH differences as concentration effects Simultaneous inoculation: Cell density, basic formula of culture medium, and serum batch remain consistent, with 0mM as the control Observation period: Covering your actual cultivation period, such as 5-7 days Monitoring indicators: Daily microscopic observation of morphology and convergence, endpoint quantified by vitality testing (such as CCK-8, MTT, or table blue) Record osmotic pressure: Record the measured osmotic pressure of each group together to distinguish between concentration effect and osmotic pressure effect For sensitive cells such as primary cells and stem cells, it is recommended to start testing at lower concentrations and record the lighting conditions together. 5.Four operational habits to reduce risks The concentration should not exceed 25mM unless there is clear experimental evidence to support higher concentrations The entire process is protected from light, and both the reserve solution and culture medium are stored away from light Recheck the osmotic pressure and measure it once every time the formula is adjusted Selecting cell culture grade raw materials with stricter control over indicators such as endotoxins and heavy metals, resulting in less interference with sensitive cells HEPES' 'low toxicity' is a relative concept, not an unlimited passport. By simultaneously controlling concentration, osmotic pressure, and light exposure, and conducting a gradient validation on one's own cells, most questions about toxicity can be answered clearly. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. provides customized supply methods from conventional models to indicators in the field of biological buffering agents. Customers can propose indicators such as purity, metal ion residue, and UV absorption based on their own experimental systems. The company is headquartered in Guanggu United Science and Technology City, Gedian Development Zone, Ezhou, Hubei Province, with two bases in Gedian and Huanggang. The annual production capacity of all categories is 5000 tons.

1.Why choose Tris when there are so many pH regulators? In the design of industrial ink formulations, the selection of pH regulators may seem simple, but it actually involves balancing multiple technical parameters such as buffering capacity, surface activity, compatibility, and long-term stability. Common pH regulators include ammonia water, triethanolamine (TEA), sodium hydroxide, various Good's buffers, etc. So, what makes Tris buffer stand out as the preferred choice for high-end ink formulations such as inkjet ink and digital printing ink? 2.Tris's molecular structure code: one molecule, two functions The molecular formula of Tris (trihydroxymethylaminomethane) is C ₄ H ₁₁ NO ∝, with a central carbon atom as the core, connecting three hydroxymethyl groups (- CH ₂ OH) and one primary amino group (- NH ₂). This structure endows Tris with a unique dual function: Primary amino (- NH ₂): Provides alkalinity and pH buffering ability, pKa=8.06 (25 ℃), effective buffering range pH 7.0-9.0 Three hydroxymethyl groups (- CH ₂ OH): endow molecules with polarity and surface activity, enabling them to possess both wetting and dispersing functions One molecule plays both the role of pH regulator and surfactant - this is the core reason why Tris is difficult to replace in ink formulations. 3.The Four Major Technical Functions of Tris in Ink 3.1 pH buffering: ensuring long-term stability of ink The pH value of ink directly affects the solubility stability of dyes, the dispersion state of pigments, and the service life of print heads. The effective buffering range of Tris is pH 7.0-9.0-4, which precisely covers the suitable pH range for most industrial inks (usually 6-10). More importantly, the Tris buffer system can continuously maintain pH stability during long-term ink storage - something that volatile bases such as ammonia cannot achieve (ammonia volatilization can cause a continuous decrease in pH). 3.2 Pigment dispersion control: ensuring dispersion effect from the source The synthesis (coupling reaction) stage of pigments is crucial in the production of pigment based inks. Research has shown that when using simple ammonia instead of Tris, appropriate dispersion effects cannot be achieved. The mechanism lies in: The pH will change rapidly during the coupling reaction process Tris, as a pH buffer under alkaline conditions, can inhibit pH mutations Thereby controlling the uniform growth of pigment particles Provide favorable conditions for the adsorption of dispersant polymers on the surface of pigment particles In contrast, Good's buffer with buffering effect in more acidic regions is difficult to achieve appropriate dispersion effect. 3.3 Surface Activity: Improving Wetting and Penetration The three hydroxymethyl groups in Tris molecule give it a certain surface activity. In ink formulations, Tris can: Reduce the surface tension of ink and improve its wettability to printing media Promote the uniform spreading of ink on different media surfaces such as paper, fabric, plastic, etc Improve the clarity and color saturation of printed materials 3.4 Metal ion compatibility: does not interfere with the reaction system Tris does not chelate with common metal ions such as Ca ² ⁺ and Mg ² ⁺, and does not deprive the ink formulation of any metal cofactors that may be required. At the same time, Tris itself does not introduce metal ions such as sodium and potassium, avoiding the problem of metal ion contamination that traditional inorganic bases may cause. 4.Tris vs other pH regulators: Technical parameter comparison Comparison Dimension Tris ammonia water Triethanolamine Sodium hydroxide Buffer Capacity ★★★★★ ★ ★★★ ★ Extremely Low without tall low Nothing surface activity have Nothing have Nothing Introduction of metal ions Nothing Nothing Nothing introduction of Na ⁺ Long term pH stability Excellent Poor good general Recommended addition amount 0.1%-2%- — — —   5.Process suggestions 5.1 Recommended addition amount of Tris According to patent literature, the content of Tris in ink compositions is usually 0.1% to 2% (by mass), preferably 0.3% to 1.5%. The specific amount of addition needs to be determined through experiments based on the initial pH, target pH, and buffering capacity requirements of the ink system. 5.2 Process precautions Dissolving sequence: It is recommended to add Tris in the early stage of ingredient preparation to ensure sufficient dissolution before adding other components PH adjustment: Tris itself is weakly alkaline. If further pH adjustment is needed, it can be used in conjunction with Tris HCl buffer system- Dark storage: Tris buffer is prone to absorbing carbonase-4 from the air, and should be sealed and stored in the dark after preparation Temperature effect: The pKa of Tris varies with temperature (Δ pKa/℃ ≈ -0.031), and pH shift should be noted in high temperature environments Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. has been specializing in the research and production of Tris for more than ten years. The product purity is stable at over 99%, with batch differences ≤ 1%, which can meet the consistency and reliability requirements of industrial ink formulations for Tris raw materials. The company has an independent R&D team that can assist customers in formula adaptation and process optimization. We welcome R&D departments of various ink companies to call or write to discuss technical issues.

Industry background: The biological buffer market is entering a period of rapid growth In recent years, with the continuous expansion of the global biopharmaceutical industry, the continuous iteration of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) technology, and the increasing investment in life science research, the market demand for biological buffering agents, as the core chemical raw materials for maintaining pH stability in biological systems, is experiencing unprecedented rapid growth. According to statistics, the market size of China's biological buffer industry has reached 2.357 billion yuan by 2025, a year-on-year increase of 7.97%. With the popularization of molecular diagnosis and immune detection technologies, the demand for high-end biological buffering agents such as HEPES, MOPS, TRIS continues to rise. The rapid development of cutting-edge fields such as cell and gene therapy (CGT) has also opened up new growth opportunities for the biological buffer market. From a global perspective, the bio buffer market also maintains strong growth momentum. According to Marketresearch.biz report, the global market size of biological buffering agents is expected to grow from $754 million in 2022 to $1.859 billion in 2032. Another organization predicts that the global market size of biological buffering agents will exceed 1.09 billion US dollars by 2026, and is expected to exceed 2.18 billion US dollars by 2035. In terms of segmented products, taking New Desheng's core product Tris as an example, the global Tris market is expected to grow from $770 million in 2025 to $950 million in 2026, and expand to $6.89 billion by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate of 24.65% from 2026 to 2035. The use of Tris as a buffering agent in drug formulation, bioprocessing, and molecular biology research continues to increase, and the demand for high-purity products is particularly strong. Another core product, HEPES, also saw significant growth. According to QYResearch, the global HEPES market sales have reached 531 million yuan by 2025, and are expected to climb to 952 million yuan by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.8%. HEPES is widely used in fields such as cell culture and IVD reagents, and the market demand continues to release. Domestic substitution accelerates, upstream raw material enterprises usher in strategic opportunities It is worth noting that against the backdrop of increasing global geopolitical risks and growing emphasis on supply chain security, the domestic substitution process for biological buffering agents is accelerating comprehensively. As the starting year of the 15th Five Year Plan, 2026 is accelerating the formation of a clear policy system to support domestic scientific research reagents. Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Shenzhen and other places have explicitly included "domestication of biological reagents" in their local biopharmaceutical industry special plans. The 14th Five Year Plan for the Development of Bioeconomy lists buffer solutions as key consumables for research and development, and the country continues to increase support for upstream core raw materials in biomedicine. Under the dual demands of supply chain security and cost reduction and efficiency improvement, domestic biopharmaceutical and IVD enterprises are accelerating the introduction of high-quality local suppliers. The core raw materials upstream of the in vitro diagnostic industry chain, including diagnostic enzymes, antigens/antibodies, biological buffering agents, chemical raw materials, etc., are accelerating the breakthrough of import dependence. New Desheng: Deeply cultivating IVD core raw materials and embracing market opportunities with a full range of product layouts Since its establishment, Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. has always focused on the field of IVD reagent raw materials, deeply cultivating the research and development, production, and sales of core products such as blood vessel additives, biological buffering agents, chemiluminescence reagents, colorimetric reagents, enzyme preparations, etc. In the biological buffering agent sector, Xindesheng has formed a matrix of more than 50 products represented by Tris, HEPES, MOPS, Bicine, Caps, Taps, EPPS, PIPES, etc., with a stable purity of over 99%, and can customize indicators according to customer application scenarios. The company's daily production can reach 5 tons, with an annual output of 2000 tons, which can meet the full cycle raw material needs of IVD enterprises from research and development to mass production. In terms of product quality, Xindesheng strictly organizes production according to the ISO 9001 quality management system, with batch differences controlled within 1%. The products are widely used in high-end application scenarios such as in vitro diagnostic kits, cell culture media, and biopharmaceuticals. In addition to biological buffering agents, Xindesheng has also developed a series of chemiluminescence reagents represented by acridine ester and luminol, a series of chromogenic substrates represented by TOOS and MAOS, and a blood sample pretreatment product system represented by heparin lithium, heparin sodium, EDTA dipotassium, tripotassium, and serum separation gel, providing one-stop services from raw materials to solutions for IVD enterprises. With the continuous expansion of the Chinese biological buffer market and the deepening of the domestic substitution process for IVD core raw materials, Xindesheng will continue to leverage its technological advantages in chemical synthesis and large-scale production, continuously optimize product quality, enrich product pipelines, and provide high-purity, high batch consistency, and cost-effective core raw material guarantees for domestic and foreign IVD and biopharmaceutical enterprises. Recent developments of the company can be followed: the orderly promotion of the construction of Huanggang new production base, and the gradual realization of stable mass production of enzyme products such as amylase substrates. Welcome new and old customers and partners to call or write to discuss cooperation.

Starting from April 28, 2026, the inter provincial alliance led by Jiangxi Province to purchase sugar metabolism and other biochemical testing reagents in bulk will be officially implemented in multiple regions. This centralized procurement covers 35 commonly used clinical biochemical testing items, including glucose metabolism, liver function, kidney function, myocardial enzymes, pancreas, etc. The selected products have an average reduction of 70%, and some products have a reduction of over 98%. Biochemical diagnosis, a core sub field of in vitro diagnostics, has been fully included in the scope of centralized procurement. As a core supplier in the field of in vitro diagnostic (IVD) reagent raw materials, Hubei Xindesheng believes that the comprehensive implementation of centralized procurement is reshaping the competitive landscape of the industry, and high-quality, cost-effective, and highly stable diagnostic raw materials will play a key role in the new market environment. 1．Core data of centralized procurement: 154 companies selected, deep reshaping of price system According to the selection results released by the Jiangxi Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau, a total of 2314 specifications of biochemical testing reagents for sugar metabolism and other biochemical testing were selected from 154 enterprises through the inter provincial alliance procurement, with a proposed selection rate of 85%. The 35 types of testing items covered by the centralized procurement precisely focus on the diagnosis and treatment testing needs of chronic diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, cardiovascular diseases, etc. In terms of price, this centralized procurement is unprecedented. The selected products have an average reduction of 70%, with some products experiencing a reduction of over 98%. 42 companies have quoted prices below 0.1 yuan per person for ion trace elements and sugar metabolism products. Among them, Roche Diagnostics, Beckman Coulter, Siemens Healthineers, Mindray Medical, and New Industries' "Calcium (CA)" products were all selected at a price of 0.07 yuan per person, New Industries' "Glucose (GLU)" was also selected at 0.07 yuan, and Roche Diagnostics' "Phosphorus (P)" was selected at 0.06 yuan. Some companies even quoted the lowest price of 0.03 yuan for the entire event. The procurement cycle for centralized procurement is 2 years, with the first year's procurement cycle from March 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026. As of now, public medical institutions in Ma'anshan, Tongling and other places in Anhui have fully launched the procurement and use of selected products. Relying on the price linkage mechanism of 26 provinces, the long-standing regional price differences have been effectively eliminated. 2．Industry impact: Cost pressure drives upstream raw material upgrades The comprehensive implementation of centralized procurement has had a profound impact on the IVD industry. Cost control capability has become the core competitiveness of downstream reagent production enterprises and medical institutions. According to industry analysis, centralized procurement has led to a change in the market size of approximately 7 billion yuan in the biochemical field. The categories covered by the three rounds of centralized procurement have accounted for about 90% of the biochemical IVD market. Under fierce price competition, 5 IVD companies and over 1400 product specifications have voluntarily withdrawn from the centralized procurement of liver function, kidney function, myocardial enzymes, and glucose metabolism biochemical reagents. Industry insiders point out that once the decline in the field of biochemical IVD exceeds 60%, manufacturers' profits will be severely impacted. In this context, the quality and cost efficiency of upstream raw materials have become key factors determining whether downstream reagent manufacturers can maintain positive cash flow after winning bids at low prices. As industry reports point out, centralized procurement forces midstream manufacturers to extend upstream and achieve self-developed and self-produced core raw materials or select cost-effective suppliers. The procurement cost and quality control of core raw materials have become key factors affecting competitiveness. The normalization of centralized procurement has made the prices of mid to low end biochemical reagents transparent, and enterprises that lack the ability to produce raw materials themselves or cannot effectively control raw material costs face direct clearance pressure. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. has long focused on the field of IVD reagent raw materials, deeply cultivating the research and development, production, and sales of core products such as biological buffering agents, enzyme preparations, chromogenic substrates (chromogenic substrates), and blood collection tube additives. The company was formerly known as Wuhan Desheng Biochemical, established in 2005. After years of technological accumulation and continuous innovation, it has grown into a core enterprise in the field of IVD reagent raw materials in China. The company has completed the closed-loop process of two core products, EPS G7 amylase substrate and DGGR lipase substrate, and successfully connected the entire process from laboratory small-scale testing to kilogram scale mass production. The comprehensive implementation of inter provincial alliance centralized procurement of biochemical detection reagents such as sugar metabolism marks a new stage of "improving quality and controlling costs" in the biochemical diagnosis industry. For the IVD reagent raw material industry, the importance of quality stability, cost efficiency, and supply guarantee capability will be further highlighted. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. will adhere to craftsmanship and quality, continuously increase research and development investment, empower the development of IVD in vitro diagnostic industry with more stable products, more professional technical support, and more competitive cost-effectiveness, and help the industry achieve high-quality development under the background of normalized centralized procurement.

On August 31st, Kangda New Materials disclosed its latest industrial layout progress. The company is making every effort to promote the construction of Dalian Qihua's 80000 tons/year electronic grade epoxy resin expansion project. The project has entered the civil construction stage and is expected to undergo equipment installation in the fourth quarter of 2026. The epoxy resin produced is mainly used in fields such as electronic materials, composite materials, functional coatings, and adhesives. 1．Behind the expansion of resin production: increasing the quantity of substrates and following up on products Resin is the foundation of the polymer materials industry. Whether it is epoxy resin, polyurethane resin or acrylic resin, their capacity expansion directly drives the improvement of downstream resin based product supply capacity and the expansion of application scenarios. Taking acrylic resin as an example. Acrylic resin has excellent weather resistance, light resistance, chemical resistance, adhesion and decorative properties, and is widely used in fields such as architectural coatings, industrial paints, automotive paints, inks, adhesives, textile coatings, etc. Polyacrylic acid and its derivatives can also be used in ion exchange resins and adhesives, as well as thickeners, dispersants, suspensions, and emulsifiers in the pharmaceutical and pigment industries. When the production capacity of upstream specialty resins continues to be released, fine products based on resins - whether it is serum separation gel used for medical testing or carbomer used in daily chemical and industrial fields - will have more abundant raw material guarantees and broader market space. 2．Two typical resin based fine products: serum separation gel and carbomer Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. has been deeply engaged in the fields of fine chemicals and biological raw materials for more than 20 years. The company's core products, serum separation gel and carbomer, are typical representatives of fine products based on resins. The serum separating gel is essentially an acrylic resin composite gel. As a key additive in blood collection tubes, serum separation gel directly determines the separation efficiency between serum/plasma and blood cells. The specific gravity of the serum separation gel from Hubei Xindesheng is precisely controlled within the range of 1.045-1.065 g/cm ³, which can accurately form layers during centrifugation; For special application scenarios such as PRP tubes, the company has also developed products with a specific weight of 1.068. The product has no heat source and is physiologically inert. After sterilization with gamma rays (8-25 kGy), there is no significant change in performance, and it has excellent resistance to hydrolysis and aging. At present, Hubei Xindesheng's serum separation gel has been widely used in the in vitro diagnostic industry. Carbomer is also a resin based product - made by crosslinking polyacrylic acid polymer with allyl sucrose or allyl pentaerythritol. It belongs to synthetic water-soluble polymers, mainly used as thickening agents, suspension aids, adhesives, and skeleton materials for controlled release formulations. Carbopol has good solubility and dispersibility, and is widely used in the preparation of products such as coatings, adhesives, dyes, and inks. Polyacrylic acid can also be used as a thickener, dispersant, flocculant, adhesive, and film-forming agent, widely used in industrial fields such as coatings, plastics, papermaking, textiles, rubber, food, medicine, cosmetics, and water treatment. Hubei Xindesheng's Carbomer series covers 940/980 and other models, and is used as thickening and gel forming agent in disposable alcohol gel and daily chemical products. Carbomer produced by the company is a white loose powder with strong moisture absorption and excellent gel forming ability. Whether it is serum separation gel or carbomer, their performance directly depends on the quality and process control level of upstream resin raw materials. The continuous expansion of special resin production capacity provides more abundant raw material guarantee and broader market space for the downstream resin based fine products industry. From serum separation gel to carbomer, Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. uses resin as the substrate and provides key functional products for industries such as in vitro diagnostics, daily chemical products, coatings, adhesives, etc. through continuous process optimization and quality control. We will continue to deepen our research and production of resin based fine products, providing stable quality services to every partner.

1.Carbopol solvent residue: a common quality challenge in the pharmaceutical and daily chemical industries Carbomer (polyacrylic acid resin) is an indispensable rheological modifier in the fields of medicine, personal care, and industry, with three core functions of thickening, suspension, and emulsification. However, due to the introduction of various organic solvents such as benzene, ethyl acetate, and cyclohexane in its preparation process, residual carbomer solvents have always been a key quality problem that troubles the industry. According to the 2025 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the key limits for residual solvents in carbomer are: benzene should not exceed ≤ 2ppm, ethyl acetate should not exceed 0.5%, and cyclohexane should not exceed 0.3%. For Carbopol products applied in the fields of pharmaceutical excipients, high-end cosmetics, and medical devices, solvent residue control is directly related to product compliance and user safety. How to control residual solvents in Carbopol? This is a question that every Carbopol production technician is thinking about. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with the Quality Department, has launched a special technical research and development project to address common challenges in this industry. 2.Technical Root Analysis of Carbopol Solvent Residue To fundamentally solve the problem of residual solvents in Carbopol, the New Desheng Technology Department and Quality Department have established a special research and development team to conduct a systematic investigation of the existing Carbopol production process. After multiple rounds of analysis and verification, the research team has identified the key factors affecting the residual Carbopol solvent, which mainly focus on the following aspects: (1) Selection of solvent system for polymerization stage Traditional carbomers (such as carbomer 940, carbomer 934, etc.) use benzene as the polymerization solvent, which poses a high risk of residual solvents. How to optimize the solvent system while ensuring polymerization efficiency is a key research topic. (2) The efficiency issue of washing process After polymerization, the crude carbomer still contains a large amount of unreacted solvents, initiators, polymerization inhibitors, and other residues. The traditional washing process has the problem of insufficient efficiency in removing these impurities. (3) Insufficient refinement of drying process Improper control of drying temperature and time may result in incomplete solvent evaporation or thermal discoloration of the product. Research has shown that when the drying temperature exceeds 120 ℃, the product will exhibit varying degrees of light yellow color. 3.Optimization of Carbopol Production Process: Stage Results After a long period of research and development, the special team has made breakthroughs in optimizing the production process of Carbopol: (1) Optimization and upgrade of Carbopol washing process The research team has systematically optimized the washing process of crude carbomer. Research has shown that washing newly prepared carbomer with ethanol aqueous solutions of different mass fractions can effectively remove residual initiators, inhibitors, and other impurities. The team further optimized parameters such as washing temperature, washing frequency, and solvent ratio, resulting in a significant increase in impurity removal rate. (2) Fine control of Carbopol drying process The research team has established the core process route of low-temperature vacuum drying, strictly controlling the drying temperature at a certain temperature. At the same time, a temperature time vacuum linkage control model was established to achieve precision and standardization of the carbomer drying process. (3) Establish a process control system for residual solvents in Carbopol The quality department has set up sampling and testing points for residual solvents in key processes such as aggregation, washing, and drying, achieving a transition from "terminal inspection" to "process control". (4) Improvement of Carbopol Solvent Residue Index After process optimization, the solvent residue of the company's carbomer was significantly reduced. The key residual solvent indicators such as ethyl acetate and cyclohexane have been stably controlled within the limits, and some indicators are better than the internal control standards. By optimizing the carbomer washing process, refining the drying process, and establishing a process control system, New Desheng has made substantial breakthroughs in controlling residual solvents in carbomer. The next article will focus on the synchronous upgrade of detection capabilities - providing a detailed introduction to the company's new gas chromatography (GC) equipment configuration, optimization of carbomer residual solvent detection methods, and improvement of quality control systems.

As of August 2026, all 66 domestic IVD listed companies have disclosed their semi annual reports. The three rankings of revenue, growth rate, and net profit show an unprecedented "misalignment" - some companies have seen revenue growth of over 30% but are still losing money, while others have seen a significant improvement in profits despite a decrease in revenue. Through this report card, a clear signal is being released: China's IVD has bid farewell to the stage of widespread growth relying on market expansion and officially entered the era of testing business quality. 1．Half year report 'misalignment': growth and profitability are decoupling According to the total revenue ranking, Fosun Pharma and Mindray lead with 20.442 billion yuan and 17.747 billion yuan respectively, but only 4 out of the top ten companies have achieved positive revenue growth, and most top companies have not yet escaped the pressure of industry adjustment. More noteworthy is the divergence between growth and profitability. Among the top ten companies in terms of total revenue growth rate, Re Jing, Kangwei Century, Wantai, Huada Intelligent Manufacturing, and Yirui are still in a loss making state; Pumen Technology's revenue increased by 19.15%, but its net profit decreased by 34.80%. On the other hand, Dean Diagnostics' net profit surged by 2160%, but profit growth mainly relied on cost reduction and efficiency improvement, as well as narrowing credit impairment losses - some companies' performance improvements were "saved" rather than "earned". Among the top ten companies in terms of net profit, only the top three companies have a combined net profit of nearly 9.6 billion yuan, accounting for 68.26% of the total net profit of 66 enterprises. The concentration of the top is extremely high, and on the loss making list, five companies including Oriental Biotechnology, Huada Intelligent Manufacturing, Wantai, Rejing, and Kehua have not crossed the breakeven line despite their positive revenue growth. 2． Why is it easy to increase income but difficult to increase profits? The normalization of centralized procurement, mutual recognition of inspection results, and DRG payment reform continue to exert multiple pressures on industry profits. In the first quarter of 2026, 43 out of 64 IVD companies were operating at a loss. When terminal reagent prices are continuously compressed, raw material costs - the largest variable cost in reagent production - become the key variable determining whether a company can make profits. Industry analysis indicates that the profit pool of the industrial chain is shifting towards upstream raw materials and downstream scale platforms. With midstream manufacturers facing extreme cost control pressure, their demand for localization of core raw materials such as enzymes, buffering agents, color substrates, etc. is unprecedentedly high. The upstream core raw materials are accelerating the breakthrough of import dependence, and the domestication rate of midstream instruments and reagents continues to rise. Mindray Medical acquired the globally renowned IVD raw material company, Hai Peptide Biotechnology, in 2021, achieving independent and controllable core technology in the field of chemiluminescence raw materials; The self-sufficiency rate of core raw materials for Mike Biology has increased to over 70%. The actions of top enterprises have already demonstrated that raw material autonomy is not just a bonus, but a bottom line for survival. 3．New Desheng's perspective: Where are we located? Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. has been deeply involved in the IVD reagent raw material track for 20 years, focusing on the research and production of core products such as biological buffering agents, enzyme preparations, color substrates, and blood collection tube additives. In 2026, the company was selected as a single champion enterprise in the manufacturing industry in Hubei Province. The data from the semi annual report confirms our long-term judgment: when terminal prices are pushed to the limit by centralized procurement, the quality and cost efficiency of upstream raw materials can truly help reagent manufacturers maintain their profit bottom line. Biological buffering agents: more than 50 products including Tris, HEPES, MOPS, etc., with a stable purity of over 99%. High purity means fewer inter batch differences and lower repeat detection rates - this is an implicit cost savings. Enzyme preparations: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), uricase (UO), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), etc., with high activity and stability, help reagent manufacturers achieve better detection performance with less raw material usage. Chromogenic substrates: TOOS, MAOS, ALPS, etc. benchmark against international standards; EPS-G7 amylase substrate and DGGR lipase substrate have achieved kilogram scale mass production - reagent manufacturers can get rid of import dependence and obtain stable and more cost-effective supply. Blood collection tube additives: heparin lithium, heparin sodium, EDTA dipotassium/tripotassium, serum separation gel, etc., covering the entire process of blood sample pretreatment. The company has two R&D and production bases in Gedian and Huanggang (70 acres), with an annual production capacity of 5000 tons for all categories. The truth revealed by 66 semi annual reports is that the industry has entered a stage of stock competition, where the competition is no longer about whose channels are wider and whose brands are louder, but whose supply chain is deeper, raw material costs are lower, and quality is more stable. For IVD reagent manufacturers, in an era where increasing revenue is easy but increasing profits is difficult, upstream raw materials are the "watershed". New Desheng will continue to focus on the research and production of IVD reagent raw materials, using higher quality and more cost-effective products to help partners build true cost barriers in the industry reshuffle. Hubei Xindesheng Material Technology Co., Ltd. - Focusing on IVD reagent raw materials to assist in accurate diagnosis