TES is a biological buffer (zwitterionic) designed by Good, et al. Typically referred to as Good’s Buffer useful in cell culture media formulations. Selection of biological buffer systems should include the following criteria: exclusion by biological membranes, low absorption between 240-700nm, chemically stable, and stable to temperature and concentration changes.
TES is a structural analog to the ethanesulfonic acid series of biological buffers to meet these criteria: midrange pKa, maximum water solubility and minimum solubility in all other solvents, minimal salt effects, minimal change in pKa with temperature, chemically and enzymatically stable, minimal absorption in visible or UV spectral range,an deasily synthesized.
