Dyes and stains: from molecular structure to histological application.

In the present review, the chemistry of dyes as well as the interaction mechanisms between tissue and dye has been detailed, and also some of the key factors affecting the selectivity of dyes by certain cellular structures have been mentioned. Moreover, due to the relevance that histological stains have acquired in biomedical research, some of the most common stains have been described, pointing out previous and current applications in basic and applied research.