Evaluating Cellular Damage: Cytotoxicity

Cytotoxicity is the assessment of a substance’s potential to cause harm or fatality in cells, stemming from various factors like chemicals, physical influences, or biological agents. This evaluation serves as a critical method for understanding a substance’s impact on cell health.

Mechanisms of Cytotoxicity

Cytotoxicity can manifest in several ways, including:

  1. Cell Membrane Damage: This can result in the leakage of cellular contents and ultimately lead to cell demise.

  2. DNA Damage: It can cause mutations in the DNA and result in cell death.

  3. Disruption of Cell Signaling: Interfering with normal cell signaling pathways can lead to cell death.

  4. Perturbation of Cell Metabolism: This disruption can impede the cell’s ability to generate essential energy, ultimately causing cell death.

Types of Cytotoxicity Tests

Various cytotoxicity tests are available, each tailored to specific substances and the information needed. Common tests include:

  1. Cell Viability Assays: These assess the number of viable cells within a population. Techniques involve cell counting, quantification of specific proteins expressed in viable cells, or measuring enzyme activity linked to cell metabolism.

  2. Cell Death Assays: These determine the number of deceased cells in a population and employ techniques like cell counting, measuring specific proteins released from dead cells, or evaluating enzyme activity associated with cell death.

  3. Cell Morphology Assays: These analyses inspect cell appearance to identify cytotoxicity indicators such as cell shrinkage, rounding, or detachment from the culture substrate.

Cell Types for Testing
Cytotoxicity assessments can be conducted on a range of cell types, including human, animal, and plant cells. The choice of cell type depends on the substance being evaluated and the specific information required.

Adherence to Standards
The following standards are adhered to in cytotoxicity testing:

  • USP <87>
  • ISO 10993-5

Cytotoxicity Tests Conducted

Cytotoxicity tests include:

  • Direct Contact
  • Agarose Overlay (Agarose Diffusion)
  • MEM Elution
  • MTT Assay

By reorganizing the content, we’ve created a more structured and reader-friendly web page. This format should make it easier for readers to understand the concept of cytotoxicity, its mechanisms, the types of tests, and the standards adhered to in evaluating cellular damage.

Scroll to Top