CyQUANT MTT Cell Viability assay is colorimetric microplate assays used to measure the metabolic activity of cells, which is an indicator of cell viability, proliferation, and cytotoxicity. CyQUANT MTT function as cell health indicators by using the cellular redox potential of live cells to convert a tetrazolium-based salt reagent, MTT, to a brightly colored formazan product. The absorbance of the formazan can be measured using a microplate reader and correlates with the number of metabolically active cells to quantitively measure cell viability and proliferation.
The CyQUANT MTT assay is based on the reduction of the water-soluble, yellow tetrazolium salt MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) to insoluble, purple formazan crystals by metabolically active cells. The redox potential in the mitochondria of active mammalian cells reduces MTT to a strongly pigmented formazan product. After solubilization, the absorbance of the formazan can be measured on a microplate reader, which correlates with the number of metabolically active cells.