Cytotoxicity

1. What is Cytotoxicity?

Cytotoxicity is the quality of being toxic to cells. Cells exposed to a cytotoxic compound can respond in a number of ways. The cells may undergo necrosis, in which they lose membrane integrity and die rapidly as a result of cell lysis; they can stop growing and dividing; or they can activate a genetic program of controlled cell death, termed apoptosis.

2. How is Cytotoxicity being measured?

There are many ways to measure cytotoxicity, but most involve assessment of cell membrane integrity. Membrane integrity can be evaluated by using vital dyes (such as trypan blue or propidium iodide), by protease biomarkers, with MTT or MTS redox potential assays, or by measuring ATP content. Many of these assays involve colorimetric, fluorescence, or luminescencedetection.

With one of the widest ranges of detection technologies on the market today, Molecular Devices can provide the bioanalytical and analytical products that you need to conduct cytotoxicity measurements, from cytometry and high-content screening systems to multi-mode microplate analysis systems to high-throughput cellular screening systems.

Cell Cytotoxicity