- CAS
- 298-93-1
- Form
- Raw material. Ask powder or a ready solution
MTT is reduced by live cells to a formazan that is read colorimetrically. More than one cellular reductase can do that, so it is an estimate of viability or proliferation, not a pure mitochondrial assay. Protect from light.
What it is
MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) is a yellow, cell-permeant tetrazolium salt. NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductases in metabolically active cells reduce it to an insoluble purple formazan. The colorimetric assay was described by Mosmann in 1983 and remains a standard viability read-out.
Where it is used
- Viability and proliferation assays in 96-well plates, typically 0.5 mg/mL final for 2–4 h at 37 °C.
- Cytotoxicity screening and IC50 estimation for compounds and materials.
- Absorbance read at about 570 nm, with a reference wavelength around 630–690 nm.
Handling tips
- Prepare a 5 mg/mL stock in PBS, filter-sterilize and protect from light; store cold for short periods or frozen in aliquots.
- Dissolve the formazan in DMSO, acidified isopropanol or SDS-HCl before reading.
- Reducing compounds such as ascorbate, thiols and some polyphenols can reduce MTT without cells; include cell-free controls.
What to specify when ordering
- Purity and whether a cell-culture tested grade is required.
- Powder or ready solution.
- Pack size. Trypan blue for counts is on stains; context is in cell culture.
Properties and storage
- Formula
- C18H16BrN5S
- Molecular weight
- 414.32
- Appearance
- Yellow powder
- Solubility
- Soluble in water and PBS (5 mg/mL is typical)
- Storage
- 2–8 °C or −20 °C, dry, dark; filtered solution frozen and dark
- Typical packs
- 1 g, 5 g, 25 g
Typical literature values. The batch COA / SDS governs.
Before you inquire
What dissolves the formazan?
DMSO, acidified isopropanol or an SDS-HCl solution is commonly used before reading; follow your protocol.
Does MTT measure cell number directly?
No. It measures reductive metabolism, which usually tracks viable cell number but can change with treatment. Confirm key results with a second method such as counting.
MTT or trypan blue?
MTT gives a plate-based metabolic read. Trypan blue gives a direct count of membrane-intact cells.
Pack sizes and catalogue numbers
CTH10020-100G
Prices on request; lead time confirmed on the quotation.
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Send an inquiryFor research or industrial use only. Not for human or animal diagnosis or treatment, and not for drug or food use. Grade, pack size and lead time follow the supplier batch COA / SDS. Figures on this site are general industry references, not a factory specification.