Dimethyl sulfoxide

DMSO is a commonly used solvent in many chemical reactions, and it is widely used in organic synthesis and industrial Usages (polymer chemistry, medicinal and agricultural chemicals) with additional uses in oxidation reactions and organic syntheses. DMSO is increasingly used in manufacturing processes to produce microelectronic devices, such as strip photoresist in TFT-LCD 'flat panel' displays. In medicine, DMSO is predominantly used as a topical analgesic, a vehicle for topical Usage of pharmaceuticals, as an anti-inflammatory and as an antioxidant. Because DMSO increases the rate of absorption of some compounds through organic tissues, including skin, it can be used as a drug delivery system. Because of its ability to dissolve many kinds of compounds, DMSO plays a role in sample management and screening operations in drug design. In biology, DMSO may also be used as a cryoprotectant, added to cell media to prevent cell death during the freezing process.