Cell Viability Assays | Apricell Biotech

Cell Viability Assays

Background

At Apricell, we specialize in advanced viability and cytotoxicity assays to evaluate the health and functional integrity of cells in response to various stimuli, including drugs, biomaterials, and environmental conditions. Using a combination of traditional 2D cultures and physiologically relevant 3D models, we provide robust, high-resolution insights into cellular behavior.

At Apricell, we combine advanced imaging technologies with robust biochemical assays to deliver precise, high-throughput analysis of cell viability and cytotoxicity. Our integrated platform enables quantitative, image-based assessment of live and dead cells across both 2D monolayers and physiologically relevant 3D models, including tumor spheroids and organoids.

We utilize well-established metabolic assays such as MTT and Presto Blue (PB) to evaluate cell health, proliferation, and response to experimental compounds. These assays are seamlessly integrated with automated high-content imaging to provide rich, actionable data on compound efficacy, mechanism of action, and toxicity profiles.

Whether for drug screening, optimization of culture conditions, or safety evaluation, our comprehensive approach supports more predictive and human-relevant preclinical research—helping accelerate therapeutic development with confidence.

Presto Blue (PB) Assay

Presto Blue (PB) Fluorescent Viability AssayPresto Blue is a resazurin-based assay that evaluates metabolic activity as a surrogate for cell viability and proliferation. Viable cells reduce the non-fluorescent resazurin to the fluorescent resorufin, which is measured using excitation/emission wavelengths of 560/590 nm.

Procedure:

Cells are cultured in 96-well plates (10,000 cells/well) in 200 µL of media.
After treatment with test compounds, 10% Presto Blue reagent is added to each well.
Plates are incubated at 37 °C for 15–30 minutes in a humidified incubator (5% CO₂).
Fluorescence is read using a microplate reader.
Cell Viability (%) = (Mean fluorescence of sample / Mean fluorescence of control) × 100

Example data Presto Blue (PB) assay:

Quantitative cell viability of the tumoroids screened with different treatment conditions using presto-blue assayy (D: DFP and D + T: DFP + TMZ with varying concentrations inside the 3D-printed mesh) on day 1 and 5, respectively.

Through cell toxicity analysis of multidrug treatment to diffident dosages of TMZ and ironchelator on non-resistant tumoroids, it has been demonstrated that combining DFO and TMZ had a synergistic effect on the toxicity of these tumoroids

MTT Colorimetric Assay

The MTT assay measures mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity. Metabolically active cells convert yellow MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) into insoluble purple formazan crystals.

Procedure:

Following treatment, MTT solution (typically 0.5 mg/mL) is added to each well and incubated for 2–4 hours.
Formazan crystals are solubilized using DMSO or SDS-containing buffer.
Absorbance is measured at 570 nm using a spectrophotometer.
Results are normalized to control and expressed as percentage viability.

Example data MTT assay: