Comprehensive Solutions for Cell Function Assays: Empowering Drug Discovery and Mechanistic Research
1. Concept of Cell Function Assays
Cell function assays are a series of standardized experimental methods designed to evaluate the physiological and pathological states of cells by detecting core cellular processes, including viability, proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and stress response. These assays serve as the cornerstone of life science research, providing quantitative and qualitative data to elucidate cellular mechanisms, screen potential drugs, and assess drug safety and efficacy.
Cell function is a comprehensive reflection of multiple interrelated biological processes: cell viability and proliferation reflect the basic survival and renewal capacity of cells; apoptosis, as programmed cell death, is closely associated with disease progression; cellular metabolism maintains energy supply and material synthesis for cell survival; and stress response reflects the adaptive capacity of cells to external stimuli. AN BIO PTE. LTD., through its specialized sub-brand Absin, offers a full range of high-quality cell function assay kits, covering four core dimensions (viability & proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, toxicity & stress) to meet diverse research needs.
2. Research Frontiers of Cell Function Assays
With the rapid development of precision medicine and translational medicine, cell function assays have been widely applied in cutting-edge research fields, driving innovations in research strategies and therapeutic development. Key frontiers include:
• High-throughput drug screening: Integrating cell function assay kits with automated detection platforms to achieve high-efficiency screening of large-scale compound libraries, significantly shortening the drug discovery cycle.
• Mechanistic research on tumor microenvironment: Evaluating the viability, proliferation, and metabolic characteristics of different cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment (e.g., cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) to explore tumor progression mechanisms.
• Stem cell therapy evaluation: Monitoring the viability, differentiation potential, and stress response of stem cells during in vitro culture and in vivo transplantation, ensuring the safety and efficacy of stem cell therapies.
• Development of organ-on-a-chip technology: Combining cell function assays with microfluidic chips to simulate the physiological environment of human organs, enabling more accurate evaluation of drug efficacy and toxicity in vitro.
3. Research Significance of Cell Function Assays
Cell function assays play an irreplaceable role in both basic life science research and clinical translation. In basic research, they help clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular physiological processes (e.g., cell cycle regulation, metabolic reprogramming) and the pathogenesis of diseases (e.g., tumorigenesis, neurodegenerative diseases caused by abnormal cell apoptosis).
In clinical research and drug development, cell function assays are essential for preclinical drug screening, efficacy evaluation, and toxicity testing. For example, cell viability and proliferation assays can assess the cytotoxicity of potential drugs; apoptosis assays can verify the pro-apoptotic effect of anticancer drugs; and metabolic assays can help develop drugs targeting metabolic disorders. AN BIO PTE. LTD. is committed to providing reliable cell function assay solutions to support researchers in accelerating scientific discoveries and promoting the transformation of research outcomes into clinical applications.
4. Key Mechanisms, Research Methods and Product Applications of Cell Function Assays
4.1 Cell Viability and Proliferation Assays
Cell viability and proliferation are fundamental indicators for evaluating cellular physiological status and the effects of external stimuli (e.g., drugs, biomaterials). The core mechanisms involve detecting intracellular enzymes (e.g., dehydrogenase), ATP levels, or DNA synthesis during cell division. AN BIO PTE. LTD.'s Absin sub-brand offers a variety of assay kits based on bioluminescent, colorimetric, and imaging methods, suitable for different experimental scales and sensitivity requirements.
4.1.1 Featured Products and Applications
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Catalog No. |
Product Name |
Specification |
Features & Applications |
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CTG-L™ 2D Cell Viability Assay Kit |
10–1000mL |
Bioluminescence, one-step assay, high sensitivity, wide linear range, 2-hour half-life, suitable for high-throughput screening. Performance is comparable to imported P** brand. Applied in evaluating the effect of STSP on HepG2 cell viability. |
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CCK-8 Kit |
500T/5000T |
Detects cell viability/proliferation via absorbance, one-step assay, supports high-throughput. Over 300 cited literatures. Applied in evaluating the viability of hGFs cells co-cultured with PolyLA-Na/PolyLA patch (Cui C et al., Nat Commun, 2023). |
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EdU-488 Cell Proliferation Assay Kit (Imaging) |
200T |
Based on Click reaction, more sensitive than BrdU, supports both in vitro and in vivo detection. Suitable for imaging analysis of cell proliferation. |
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MTT Cell Proliferation Assay Kit |
500T |
Two-step assay, absorbance detection after dissolving formazan crystals. Classic method for detecting cell viability/proliferation. |
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MTS Cell Proliferation Assay Kit |
500T/2500T |
Upgraded version of MTT, no need for solvent dissolution, one-step assay for cell viability/proliferation. Classic and reliable method. |
Cell apoptosis is a genetically regulated programmed cell death process, closely associated with the occurrence and development of diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Apoptosis assays can detect different stages of apoptosis, including early mitochondrial membrane potential changes, activation of key apoptotic proteins (e.g., Caspase enzymes), and characteristic cellular staining patterns. These assays provide powerful tools for apoptotic mechanism research and drug development.
4.2.1 Featured Products and Applications
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Catalog No. |
Product Name |
Specification |
Features & Applications |
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Annexin V-FITC/PI Cell Apoptosis Detection Kit |
25-100T |
Classic double-staining method, distinguishes early and late apoptotic cells, supports both imaging and flow cytometry detection. Over 300 cited literatures. Applied in analyzing apoptosis of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) after S100A13 knockdown (Xia L et al., Cell Commun Signal, 2025). |
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abs50198 |
CAS-GT™ Caspase 3/7 Cell Apoptosis Assay Kit |
2.5-100mL |
Bioluminescence, one-step assay, high sensitivity, wide linear range, 2-hour half-life, suitable for high-throughput screening. Performance is comparable to imported P** brand. Applied in detecting Caspase 3/7 activity in HeLa cells treated with STSP. |
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Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Assay Kit (JC-1) |
100T |
Detects early apoptotic indicator (mitochondrial membrane potential change), high sensitivity. Over 30 cited literatures. Suitable for evaluating mitochondrial function during apoptosis. |
4.3 Cellular Metabolism-Associated Assays
Cellular metabolism is the core process maintaining cell function, and its abnormalities are closely related to various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Metabolism-associated assays focus on key metabolic indicators including glucose uptake, lactate production, NAD+/NADH balance, and ATP levels, enabling quantitative analysis of cellular energy metabolism status and supporting metabolic mechanism research and drug development for metabolic diseases.
4.3.1 Featured Products and Applications
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Catalog No. |
Product Name |
Specification |
Features & Applications |
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abs580267 |
Glucose Uptake Assay Kit (Fluorometric) |
96T |
Fluorometric method, high sensitivity, wide linear range. Quantitatively detects exogenous glucose uptake by cells. Suitable for research on glucose metabolism disorders. |
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abs580160 |
Lactic Acid (LA) Assay Kit |
96T |
Colorimetric method, cost-effective. Quantitatively detects changes in lactic acid content in samples. Applied in evaluating glycolytic metabolism activity. |
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abs90116 |
NAD+/NADH Assay Kit (WST-8 Method) |
96T |
Colorimetric method, measures NADH and NAD+ content in two steps, high sensitivity. Requires combined use with total protein quantification kit (abs9232). Suitable for analyzing redox balance in cells. |
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ATP Assay Kit |
96T |
Bioluminescence, high sensitivity, wide linear range. Accurately quantifies intracellular ATP levels and evaluates cellular energy metabolism status. |
4.4 Cytotoxicity and Stress Assays
Cells produce toxic reactions and stress responses when exposed to external stimuli (e.g., drugs, environmental toxins, oxidative stress). These responses are important criteria for evaluating drug safety and cellular adaptability. Cytotoxicity and stress assays can detect indicators such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and kinase-related toxicity, comprehensively reflecting cellular stress status and damage degree.
4.4.1 Featured Products and Applications
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Catalog No. |
Product Name |
Specification |
Features & Applications |
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Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Assay Kit (Green Fluorescence) |
96T |
Fluorescent probe detection, high sensitivity, high-throughput compatible, supports both imaging and flow cytometry. Suitable for evaluating oxidative stress levels in cells. |
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abs580264 |
Oxidized Glutathione (GSSG) Assay Kit (Microplate Method) |
96T |
Colorimetric method, cost-effective, accurately measures GSSG content in samples in two steps. Evaluates cellular oxidative stress levels. |
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Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Cytotoxicity Assay Kit |
480T |
Colorimetric method, cost-effective, supports high-throughput. Classic method for evaluating cytotoxicity by detecting LDH activity released from damaged cells. |
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abs50197 |
ADP-K™ Kinase ADP Assay Kit |
400T/1000T |
Bioluminescence method, high sensitivity, wide linear range. Directly evaluates the toxicity of kinase inhibitor drugs, supports reaction systems with mM-level ATP concentration. |
5. Brand Mission of AN BIO PTE. LTD.
AN BIO PTE. LTD. is dedicated to advancing life science research through high-quality, reliable reagents and comprehensive solutions. Focusing on the core demand of cell function research, we provide a full range of assay kits through our Absin sub-brand, covering viability & proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and toxicity & stress. Our products feature high sensitivity, high-throughput compatibility, and full-process validation, with over 14,000 literature citations. We are committed to being a trusted partner for researchers worldwide, supporting the acceleration of scientific discoveries and the transformation of research outcomes into clinical applications, and making positive contributions to global health.
For more details on the above cell function assay kits, please visit AntBio - Fueling Research, Feeding Discovery.
This article is AI-compiled and interpreted based on the original work in DOI: 10.1002/advs.202413562. All intellectual property (e.g., images, data) of the original publication shall belong to the journal and the research team. For any infringement, please contact us promptly and we will take immediate action.
ANT BIO PTE. LTD. – Empowering Scientific Breakthroughs
At ANTBIO, we are committed to advancing life science research through high-quality, reliable reagents and comprehensive solutions. Our specialized sub-brands (Absin, Starter, UA) cover a full spectrum of research needs, from general reagents and kits to antibodies and recombinant proteins. With a focus on innovation, quality, and customer-centricity, we strive to be your trusted partner in unlocking scientific mysteries and driving medical progress. Explore our product portfolio today and elevate your research to new heights.
