MTT assay to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of a drug

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjp.v12i2.30892

Keywords:

Cell viability, Cytotoxicity, Formazan, MTT assay

Abstract

Quantification of cell viability and proliferation form the fundamental for numerous in vitro assays in response to external factors. An MTT assay is a colorimetric assay based on assessing the cell metabolic activity. A549 Lung adenocarcinoma cell line was used to see the cytotoxic potential of a new drug for initial screening of apoptosis or necrosis. The biochemical mechanism behind the MTT assay involves NAD(P)H-dependent cellular oxidoreductase enzyme that converts the yellow tetrazolium MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] into insoluble (E,Z)-5-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-1,3-diphenylformazan (formazan). The formed formazan can be dissolved with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to give a purple color with characteristic absorption at 540 nm. Intensity of purple color is directly proportional to the cell number and thus indicating the cell viability.

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Author Biographies

Ashutosh Bahuguna, Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Daegu University, Daegu, South Korea.

Post-doc

Mob: +82-10-48321341

Imran Khan, Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Daegu University, Daegu, South Korea.

PhD scholar

Mobile: +821073549718

Vivek K. Bajpai, Department of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, South Korea.

Assistant Professor

Sun Chul Kang, Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Daegu University, Daegu, South Korea.

Professor

References

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Van de Loosdrecht AA, Beelen RH, Ossenkoppele GJ, Broekhoven MG, Langenhuijsen MM. A tetrazolium-based colorimetric MTT assay to quantitate human monocyte mediated cytotoxicity against leukemic cells from cell lines and patients with acute myeloid leukemia. J Immunol Methods. 1994; 174: 311-20.

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Published

2017-04-08

How to Cite

Bahuguna, A., I. Khan, V. K. Bajpai, and S. C. Kang. “MTT Assay to Evaluate the Cytotoxic Potential of a Drug”. Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 12, no. 2, Apr. 2017, p. Available Online: Apr 8, 2017, doi:10.3329/bjp.v12i2.30892.

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Section

Visual Experiment