Cell Washing and Resuspension: Isotonic buffer for gentle washing and resuspension of mammalian and microbial cells; 5% sorbitol provides osmoprotection to minimize cell stress.

Electroporation Workflows: Used to wash and resuspend electrocompetent Escherichia coli and other bacteria before/after pulsing, improving viability via sorbitol-mediated osmotic support.

Osmotic Stabilization of Spheroplasts/Protoplasts: Maintains integrity of bacterial spheroplasts (e.g., Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis) and yeast protoplasts during enzymatic or mechanical cell wall removal.

Flow Cytometry (FACS): Serves as an isotonic sheath/sample buffer to preserve cell morphology and surface epitopes, with sorbitol reducing osmotic shock.

Immunoassays (ELISA/IFA): Functions as a wash/dilution buffer that stabilizes antigens and cells; sorbitol helps limit nonspecific lysis and epitope loss.

Microscopy and Cell Handling: Provides a gentle holding buffer for imaging and manipulation of fragile cells and bacteria, sustaining osmolarity during transfers.

Protein and Enzyme Stabilization: Used as a formulation/dilution buffer where sorbitol acts as a stabilizing osmolyte for sensitive proteins and enzyme complexes.

Sample Preparation and Buffer Exchange: Employed for rinsing and exchanging salts in cell pellets or crude lysates while maintaining physiological pH and osmolality.