Background and Common Uses
A liquid ubiquitous to organic chemistry labs in universities across the world, dimethyl sulfoxide is a useful solvent with a wide range of applications in chemical research and industry. DMSO is manufactured via chemical synthesis involving a fluoride displacement reaction (Wang et al., 2012). Using advanced techniques such as 3D modeling of liver and heart cells exposed to DMSO, researchers found that DMSO can cause transcription errors, microRNA deregulation, and significant methylation disruption exhibited across the entire genome (Verheijen et al., 2019). Because of these effects, the researchers suggest further research into the use of DMSO as a solvent used in cryopreservation. However, other research supports the conclusion that DSMO is not genotoxic or carcinogenic in the short term (Hartwig, 2017). Further research is necessary to determine the potential for carcinogenicity in the longer term via subchronic and chronic exposure studies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethyl_sulfoxide
https://www.gaylordchemical.com/process-safety-and-technology/dmso-recovery-engineering-environmental/
Mechanistically, DMSO is known to easily cross membranes. For this reason, among others, it is a choice solvent for laboratory injection procedures. It is used in some cases to treat amyloidosis, skin conditions, and inflammation (DMSO, 2021). DMSO may act as an anti-inflammatory agent by suppressing prostaglandin, cytokines, and phosphorylation involved in the inflammatory process (Elisia et al., 2016).
Biological Effects and Treatment
DMSO is capable of crossing the skin and the blood brain barrier; therefore, it is nonspecific with regards to its target organ(s). The most frequently occurring adverse reactions caused by DMSO involve the gastrointestinal system and the skin. A review of clinical trials involving DMSO concluded that nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps are common symptoms of DMSO poisoning (Kollerup Madsen et al., 2019).
https://www.amazon.com/Dmso-Cream-Aloe-Vera-Scented/dp/B0070Z7KME
Treatment of DMSO poisoning is difficult because it distributes throughout the body. Physicians can work to maintain physiologically appropriate levels of ions, hydration, and oxygen saturation while observing patients exposed to DMSO.
Click the links below to view short videos about DSMO.
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/dmso-uses-and-risks
https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/substance/dimethylsulfoxide781367685?context=product
References
DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide): Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions. (n.d.). RxList. Retrieved July 6, 2021, from https://www.rxlist.com/dmso_dimethylsulfoxide/supplements.htm
Elisia, I., Nakamura, H., Lam, V., Hofs, E., Cederberg, R., Cait, J., Hughes, M. R., Lee, L., Jia, W., Adomat, H. H., Guns, E. S., McNagny, K. M., Samudio, I., & Krystal, G. (2016). DMSO Represses Inflammatory Cytokine Production from Human Blood Cells and Reduces Autoimmune Arthritis. PLoS ONE, 11(3), e0152538. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152538
Hartwig, A. (2017). Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) [MAK Value Documentation, 2009]. In The MAK-Collection for Occupational Health and Safety (pp. 1122–1134). American Cancer Society. https://doi.org/10.1002/3527600418.mb6768e4617
Kollerup Madsen, B., Hilscher, M., Zetner, D., & Rosenberg, J. (2019). Adverse reactions of dimethyl sulfoxide in humans: A systematic review. F1000Research, 7, 1746. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.16642.2
Verheijen, M., Lienhard, M., Schrooders, Y., Clayton, O., Nudischer, R., Boerno, S., Timmermann, B., Selevsek, N., Schlapbach, R., Gmuender, H., Gotta, S., Geraedts, J., Herwig, R., Kleinjans, J., & Caiment, F. (2019). DMSO induces drastic changes in human cellular processes and epigenetic landscape in vitro. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 4641. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40660-0
Wang, Z., Richter, S. M., Gates, B. D., & Grieme, T. A. (2012). Safety Concerns in a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Process Using Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) as a Solvent. Organic Process Research & Development, 16(12), 1994–2000. https://doi.org/10.1021/op300016m