Cell-Based Assays: What is it? Its Different Types?

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cell-based assays
cell-based assays

Millions of citizens are suffering from cardiovascular diseases, obesity, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. It shows the necessity of new medicinal drugs in the market. In the past, the production of drugs was highly chance based. Whenever an element had a positive effect on the cell, a helpful drug was discovered. After inventing the cell assay process, drug discovery has turned in a new direction. It has been more systematic and authentic.

Cell-based assays are nothing but trials to determine the effects of any drugs or compounds on the cells. The trials provide essential information on drug discovery. Due to toxicity, the pharmaceutical industry faces many challenges in drug development. Cell assays enable researchers to investigate basic cell biology and its connection to disease pathology.

5 Different Types of Cell-Based Assay

Researchers plan different cellular assays to accurately measure and address the objects and their effects. The following are the main types of cell-based assays, which are commonly used by researchers.

1. Cell Viability Assays

It is the measure of the ratio of live and healthy cells within the population. Cell Viability Assays determine the health of the cell, and experimental conditions and measure the cell’s survival. They also can kill a cell, like bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc.

2. Cell Proliferation Assays

This assay tests the cells’ growth rate. To avoid decaying and getting older, cells need to divide and multiply. For example, during cancer, it is important to observe if the applied drug is leading to the growth of healthy cells or cancerous cells.

Cell proliferation assays typically keep an eye on the changes in the number of cells in a cell population. Cell Proliferation Assays play a significant role in normal tissue and cellular homeostasis for the proper growth and maintenance of organisms. Cell Proliferation Assays are divided into four:

  • Cell Proliferation Marker Assays
  • Metabolic Activity Assays
  • ATP Concentration Assays
  • DNA Synthesis Assays

3. Cytotoxicity Assays

It is used to assess any damage to cellular membranes. Cytotoxicity Assays determine the number of live and dead cells. Healthy cells can be induced to go through apoptosis or necrosis by using a cytotoxic compound. Cytotoxicity can be a helpful tool in determining compounds that might pose a specific danger to human health. For researchers, understanding the workings of cytotoxicity on the biological processes is quite beneficial for governing cell proliferation, cell growth, and death.

Other common types of cell-based assays include:

  • Apoptosis Assays
  • Epigenetic Assays
  • Immuno-Oncology Assays
  • Target Engagement Assays (kinase)
  • Cell Angiogenesis Assay
  • 3D Tumor Spheroid Assays
  • Immuno-Oncology Assays
  • Cytokine and Chemokine Measurement
  • Colony Formation Assays
  • Kinase Phosphorylation Assays
  • Invasion and Migration Assays

A well-designed assay is significant for recognizing the changes occurring in the cell culture.

4. Cell Death Assay

Figuring out if a new substance is killing cells is not enough for researchers. They need to study how cell death happens. The cell morality pathway is very important since not all cell deaths are the consequences of abnormal causes. There are three types of programmed cell death: Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Necrosis.

  • Apoptosis: This cell death assay is vital for homeostasis, development, and the pathogenesis of various diseases, including cancer. Apoptotic cells appear in a controlled fashion as a response to intrinsic or extrinsic signals. Apoptotic cell death includes phosphatidylserine exposure on the extracellular face of the plasma membrane, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspases, cell shrinkage, DNA fragmentation, and DNA condensation.
  • Autophagy: It serves as a critical homeostatic function. Autophagy works as selective degradation of intracellular targets, like damaged organelles and misfolded proteins. It is basically a biological recycling mechanism where the lysosomal pathway ubiquitinates and targets misfolded proteins for degradation.
  • Necrosis: It is responsible for cell swelling and destruction of the subcellular organelles and plasma membrane. Necrotic cell death is considered both accidental and programmed cell death.

5. Cellular Signaling Assay

A cellular signaling assay can identify if a drug affects the cell in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Cell signaling can be measured using methods, such as metabolic assays, Intracellular calcium flux, and changes in intracellular pH. Methods like immunohistochemistry can measure the changes in downstream messengers.

The Bottom Line

Today, the techniques and methods of cell-based assayplay a valuable role, especially in the department of discovery and development of drugs. Authentic contract lab services in California are very significant in helping researchers with the right equipment and the proper environment. They provide the researchers with a research platform to explore small molecules and cell-based therapies.

Besides these five common cellular assays, mentioned above, there are more cell assays, like metabolic assays, gene reporter assays, receptor binding assays, etc. Different cellular assays are used to determine the efficacy of different drugs for various health conditions.