What are the applications of cell-based assays?

One application of these assays is they are used to assess the potential harm or damage a substance can cause to cells (cytotoxicity), which helps in evaluating the safety of new drugs or chemicals. Another application involves analyzing the underlying biological processes that occur in cells when exposed to certain substances. This aids in finding how drugs or chemicals work at a molecular level. A third application involves determining how biologically active a substance is in influencing cellular processes, such as stimulating or inhibiting specific biological functions. Lastly, these assays are used for identifying unintended effects of a drug or compound that may have on non-targeted cellular pathways. This helps in reducing potential side effects and improving drug safety.