The MTT assay is a colorimetric laboratory test that measures cell viability and metabolic activity by detecting the reduction of a yellow tetrazolium compound (MTT) into an insoluble purple formazan product by metabolically active cells. Because only viable cells with functioning mitochondrial and cellular enzymes …
The MTT assay is a colorimetric laboratory test that measures cell viability and metabolic activity by detecting the reduction of a yellow tetrazolium compound (MTT) into an insoluble purple formazan product by metabolically active cells. Because only viable cells with functioning mitochondrial and cellular enzymes can carry out this reduction, the amount of formazan produced, measured by light absorbance, serves as an indirect indicator of the number of living cells in a sample. The MTT assay is widely used in basic and applied research because it is rapid, reliable, reproducible, and relatively inexpensive. Its most common applications include assessing the cytotoxic or cytostatic effects of drugs, nanoparticles, natural products, and other compounds on cultured cell lines, as well as evaluating cell proliferation and the biocompatibility of materials. The assay is a standard tool in cancer research, pharmacology, toxicology, and nanomedicine, often performed on tumour and normal cell lines to compare responses. The journal publishes peer-reviewed research employing such cell-based viability methods reflecting these themes, including studies on the cytotoxic and apoptotic activity of silver nanoparticles on cancer cell lines, in vitro assessment of test formulations using cardiomyocyte and other cell lines, antibacterial and cytotoxicity activities of plant-derived compounds, and the evaluation of antioxidative effects on cultured cells under oxidative stress.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 62 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Mtt Assay, linking to each citing work.