Neutral red cell cytotoxicity assay is one of the common methods used to detect cell viability or drug cytotoxicity. The principle of this assay is based on the detection of viable cells via the uptake of the dye neutral red. Neutral red is a eurhodin dye that stains lysosomes in viable cells. Viable cells can take up neutral red via active transport and incorporate the dye into their lysosomes but non-viable cells cannot not take up this chromophore. Consequently, after washing, viable cells can release the incorporated dye in under acidified-extracted conditions. The amount of released dye can be used to determine the total number of viable cells or drug cytotoxicity. The neutral red uptake assay provides a quantitative measurement of the
Size
1000 assays
Concentration
n/a
Applications
This assay provides a convenient and non-radioactive alternative to carry out cytotoxicity assays. This assay relies on the ability of neutral cells to stain lysosomes of viable cells.