Cosmetic testing using cells will soon replace animal testing.

Cell Viability

Cosmetic compound treatment could cause reduced cell viability, which indicates it may cause toxicity. Viability assays measure the number of live cells by detecting biomarkers that decline upon cell death. An increase of the viability marker indicates cell proliferation, while a decrease indicates cell death. Viability assays are often multiplexed with cytotoxicity assays for a more definitive analysis of cell growth or death.

Cytotoxicity

The hallmark of cell death is loss of plasma membrane integrity. Therefore, cytotoxicity assays can detect cell death using markers that are accessible after plasma membrane damage caused by cosmetic compounds.

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death and can be observed by measuring the appearance of various markers after cosmetic compound treatment.

Interested in Apoptosis Assays?

Inflammation

Inflammation is a protective response to external stimuli, such as cosmetic compounds. When activated, innate immune cells respond to stimuli with the formation of protein complexes called inflammasomes. This leads to caspase-1 activation, which stimulates processing and release of the cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, eventually causing pyroptosis—an immunogenic form of programmed cell death.

Interested in Inflammation Assays?

Reporter Assay

Cosmetic compounds can influence various biological pathways. Reporter assays are a simple way to determine whether gene expression, signal transduction or protein function is affected after compound treatment.

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Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the capacity to eliminate ROS and repair oxidative damage. Oxidative stress can be induced by cosmetic compounds that are chemical oxidants, inhibitors of antioxidant activities or uncouplers of mitochondrial function.

Interested in Oxidative Stress Assays?