Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) is a balanced salt solution used in cell culture and tissue research settings. HBSS was originally developed by Dr. Thomas Hanks and serves as a physiological salt solution to keep cells and tissues alive during experiments.

The solution contains important ions such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and phosphate that stabilize osmotic pressure and pH and maintain ion concentrations in cells and tissues. HBSS may also contain glucose and phenol red, which serve as an energy supplier and pH indicator.

Hank's Balanced Salt Solution is used in a variety of applications, including:

1. Flushing and maintaining the cellular environment during isolation and culturing of cells and tissues.
<2. Use as a buffer solution to prevent cellular stress and maintain physiological conditions during experimental manipulations.
3. Temporary storage of cells and tissues prior to processing, for example during immunohistochemistry or microscopy.

It is important to note that HBSS does not contain growth factors or proteins necessary for cell growth and proliferation. Therefore, it is usually used only for short-term applications, and a complete cell culture solution containing growth factors, amino acids and vitamins is needed for cell growth.