In the complex and challenging landscape of antifungal drug discovery, a promising compound's journey from the lab bench to clinical use is fraught with hurdles. One of the most significant and common reasons for drug candidate failure is toxicity. At Creative Biolabs, we understand that assessing the potential toxicity of your antifungal compounds early in the discovery process is not a mere regulatory step—it is a critical, value-driven strategy. Our comprehensive in vitro cytotoxicity services are designed to de-risk your pipeline, enabling you to make informed decisions, prioritize the most promising leads, and avoid costly late-stage failures. Contact Us for a Customized Quote
Overview of the Service
Our in vitro cytotoxicity services provide a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective way to evaluate the toxic potential of your antifungal drug candidates on mammalian cells. We offer a full spectrum of assays, from high-throughput screening for early hit identification to detailed mechanistic studies for lead optimization. By combining our deep scientific expertise with state-of-the-art technology, we help you understand not just if a compound is toxic, but why it is toxic, providing crucial insights into its mechanism of action and safety profile.
Detailed Scope of Services
We offer a modular and customizable suite of services to fit every stage of your drug discovery program.
Workflow
Service Details
Deliverables
Turnaround Time
Services
High-Throughput Cytotoxicity Screening
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Assays: High-throughput viability assays (e.g., MTT, MTS, resazurin/alamarBlue) in a 96-well or 384-well plate format.
Primary and Secondary Profiling
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Cell Viability and Proliferation Assays (e.g., ATP content, LDH release)
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Apoptosis/Necrosis Assays (e.g., Annexin V/PI staining via flow cytometry)
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Cellular Morphology Analysis (e.g., using high-content imaging)
Mechanistic Toxicology Studies
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Mitochondrial Function Assays: Seahorse XF analysis to measure oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR).
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Oxidative Stress Assays: Measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione levels.
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Genotoxicity Assays: In vitro micronucleus (MN) assay to detect chromosomal damage.
Samples
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Compound Purity: Compounds should be of high purity (>95%).
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Quantity: Please provide more compound required for more extensive screening.
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Format: We accept compounds as dry powder or as a stock solution in DMSO.
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Shipping: All samples should be shipped according to our detailed shipping instructions to ensure stability and integrity.
Deliverables
Comprehensive Study Report
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Summary of the study design and methods.
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Raw data tables for all assays.
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Analyzed data, including dose-response curves and calculated IC50/EC50 values.
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Scientific interpretation and a summary of key findings.
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Quality control data and validation metrics.
Turnaround Time
Turnaround times may vary depending on the complexity and scale of the project. A detailed timeline will be provided with your project proposal.
Ready to discuss your project? Let us get in touch and explore how our consulting services can help you achieve your goals.
The Mechanism of Action: Differentiating Fungal and Host Cell Toxicity
A core challenge in antifungal drug discovery is achieving selective toxicity—killing the fungus without harming the human host. Our services are specifically tailored to address this challenge. We help you investigate how your compounds interact with host cells at a cellular and molecular level, providing data to help you differentiate between the intended antifungal effect and unintended cytotoxicity to human cells.
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Cellular Membrane Integrity: Assessing a compound's ability to disrupt the lipid bilayer of mammalian cells, a common mechanism for certain toxic compounds.
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Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Evaluating the impact on cellular energy production, a key indicator of metabolic toxicity. Assays like MTT, MTS, and PrestoBlue measure metabolic activity as a proxy for cell viability.
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Apoptosis and Necrosis: Distinguishing between programmed cell death (apoptosis) and uncontrolled cell death (necrosis), which provides insight into the compound's mode of toxicity.
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DNA Damage: Testing for genotoxicity, a critical safety endpoint that indicates the potential for a compound to cause mutations or chromosomal damage.
Our Advantages
Specialized Expertise
Our team has extensive experience in infectious disease research and in vitro toxicology, particularly in the context of antifungal drug discovery.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
We are equipped with advanced automated liquid handlers, plate readers, and high-content imaging systems to ensure high-quality and reproducible data.
Customizable Solutions
We don't offer a one-size-fits-all approach. Every project is uniquely designed to address your specific scientific questions.
Reduced Overhead
Outsourcing your cytotoxicity screening eliminates the need for significant capital investment in equipment, personnel, and lab space.
Accelerated Timelines
Our streamlined workflows and established protocols enable faster data generation, helping you accelerate your drug discovery timeline.
Data Quality and Integrity
We operate under strict quality control standards to deliver reliable, robust, and audit-ready data.
Applications
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Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies: From small startups to large corporations looking to outsource their preclinical screening and de-risk their pipelines.
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Academic and Research Institutions: Researchers seeking to validate their compounds or explore new therapeutic candidates with professional-grade services.
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Government and Non-Profit Organizations: Groups focused on global health initiatives and the development of new treatments for neglected fungal diseases.
Your next breakthrough is just a conversation away. Let's talk about your challenges and find a custom solution together.
FAQs
Why is in vitro cytotoxicity testing necessary for antifungal drugs?
Unlike antibiotics, which target bacteria, antifungal agents target eukaryotic cells (fungi). This similarity to human cells means there is a higher risk of off-target toxicity to the host. Early in vitro cytotoxicity testing is crucial for identifying compounds with a favorable therapeutic window before moving to more expensive and time-consuming in vivo studies.
Do you offer other services beyond cytotoxicity?
Yes, we offer a full suite of preclinical services for infectious disease drug discovery, including in vitro antifungal efficacy testing (MIC/MFC determination), mechanism of action studies, and resistance profiling. We can provide an integrated service package to support your entire drug discovery program.
Can you test my compounds on a specific cell line not listed?
Absolutely. We offer custom cell culture and assay development services. If you have a specific cell line that is critical to your research, we can work with you to validate an assay and test your compounds.
