Protein visualisation by Ruthenium(II) tris(bathophenthroline disulfonate) has become a firmly established and widely used method in proteomic analysis[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] and a crucial step in gene expression profiling.

The dyes used for this important step should combine attributes like good signal to background ratio (contrast), broad linear dynamic range, broad application range, photochemical stability and compatibility to protein identification techniques, e.g. mass spectrometry (MS) or Western blotting.

[21][22] While Sypro Ruby is proprietary & is not stated to have RuBPS as the major component, it is stated to have ruthenium, and Rabilloud et al. synthesized RuPBS and compared it to Sypro Ruby, finding them to be highly similar, albeit not identical, reagents for fluorescent detection of proteins in polyacrylamide gels.

Lamanda et al. improved the RuBPS staining protocol by selectively destaining the polyacrylamide matrix while the protein content remained tinctured.

[25] More recently, heteroleptic ruthenium(II) complexes highly similar to RuBPS were shown to have some improved properties, specifically a broader pH range where they could be used.