Introduction: Cell cultures are essential tools in pharmaceutical research, enabling controlled studies of cell behavior, drug screening, toxicity testing, and vaccine development. Applications of cell cultures in research span cancer biology, pharmacokinetics, ADME studies, tissue engineering, stem cell therapy, and monoclonal antibody production—making them highly relevant for B. Pharm students. Mastery of cell culture techniques and their applications helps in designing experiments, interpreting preclinical data, and adopting advances like 3D cultures, organoids, and bioreactors. This topic-focused MCQ set reinforces core concepts, practical applications, and experimental considerations for budding pharmacists. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is a primary application of cell culture in early drug discovery?
- Large-scale vaccine production
- High-throughput screening of compound libraries
- Long-term cell line immortalization
- Clinical Phase III trials
Correct Answer: High-throughput screening of compound libraries
Q2. Which cell culture model best mimics tissue architecture and cell–cell interactions?
- 2D monolayer culture
- Suspension culture
- 3D spheroid/organoid culture
- Primary cell suspension
Correct Answer: 3D spheroid/organoid culture
Q3. For cytotoxicity testing of a new drug, which assay is commonly used with cell cultures?
- ELISA for cytokines
- MTS/MTT cell viability assay
- Western blot for DNA repair proteins
- Flow injection analysis
Correct Answer: MTS/MTT cell viability assay
Q4. What is the advantage of using immortalized cell lines in research?
- They always behave exactly like primary tissues
- They provide an unlimited supply of cells with consistent properties
- They cannot be genetically modified
- They eliminate the need for aseptic technique
Correct Answer: They provide an unlimited supply of cells with consistent properties
Q5. Which application uses cell cultures to study drug metabolism and enzyme activity?
- Microbial fermentation
- In vitro ADME and hepatocyte metabolism studies
- Patch clamp electrophysiology
- Clinical pharmacodynamic trials
Correct Answer: In vitro ADME and hepatocyte metabolism studies
Q6. What is the role of feeder layers in stem cell culture?
- To increase bacterial contamination
- To provide growth factors and extracellular matrix support
- To prevent differentiation by physical separation only
- To supply antibiotics to the culture
Correct Answer: To provide growth factors and extracellular matrix support
Q7. Which cell culture application is central to monoclonal antibody production?
- Primary neuron cultures
- Hybridoma technology using cultured B cells
- 3D organoid modelling
- Microbial cell culture
Correct Answer: Hybridoma technology using cultured B cells
Q8. Why are sterile techniques critical in cell culture applications?
- They reduce reagent costs
- They prevent contamination that can alter experimental results
- They accelerate cell growth irrespective of conditions
- They eliminate the need for incubators
Correct Answer: They prevent contamination that can alter experimental results
Q9. Which cell type is often used for in vitro cardiac toxicity screening?
- Hepatocytes
- iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
- CHO suspension cells
- Fibroblast feeder cells
Correct Answer: iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes
Q10. How do co-culture systems enhance research applications?
- They separate cell types physically with no interaction
- They model cell–cell interactions and paracrine signalling between different cell types
- They are only useful for microbiology
- They prevent any metabolic exchange
Correct Answer: They model cell–cell interactions and paracrine signalling between different cell types
Q11. Which application of cell culture is most relevant for personalized medicine?
- Using generic immortalized lines for all patients
- Patient-derived tumor organoids for individualized drug testing
- Mass production of antibiotics
- Using feeder-free systems only
Correct Answer: Patient-derived tumor organoids for individualized drug testing
Q12. What is the purpose of using serum-free media in certain cell culture applications?
- To ensure undefined variable growth factors are present
- To reduce variability and support defined experimental conditions
- To increase contamination risk
- To prevent cell attachment always
Correct Answer: To reduce variability and support defined experimental conditions
Q13. In vaccine research, how are cell cultures commonly used?
- As sites for viral propagation and antigen production
- Only for toxicity testing in animals
- As a replacement for adjuvants
- To directly perform Phase IV trials
Correct Answer: As sites for viral propagation and antigen production
Q14. What advantage do 3D cultures have over 2D cultures for anticancer drug testing?
- They are cheaper to run
- They better replicate tumor microenvironment and drug penetration barriers
- They always grow faster
- They eliminate the need for controls
Correct Answer: They better replicate tumor microenvironment and drug penetration barriers
Q15. Which technique uses cultured cells to measure receptor–ligand binding and downstream signalling?
- Mass spectrometry of serum
- Cell-based reporter assays (e.g., luciferase reporters)
- Gram staining
- Paper chromatography
Correct Answer: Cell-based reporter assays (e.g., luciferase reporters)
Q16. What is a common use of cryopreservation in cell culture workflows?
- To permanently remove cell lines
- To store cells long-term without significant loss of viability
- To speed up cell division
- To sterilize culture media
Correct Answer: To store cells long-term without significant loss of viability
Q17. Which cell culture application helps in studying drug transport across epithelial barriers?
- Neuronal patch clamp
- Caco-2 monolayer permeability assays
- ELISPOT for antibody secreting cells
- Microbial sensitivity testing
Correct Answer: Caco-2 monolayer permeability assays
Q18. For toxicity prediction, which endpoint is commonly measured in cultured cells?
- Atmospheric pressure
- Cell viability, apoptosis, and oxidative stress markers
- Soil pH
- Blood pressure in vivo
Correct Answer: Cell viability, apoptosis, and oxidative stress markers
Q19. How do organoids contribute to modeling complex diseases?
- By providing a single uniform cell type
- By recapitulating multicellular organization and organ-specific functions
- By eliminating the need for molecular assays
- By acting only as inert scaffolds
Correct Answer: By recapitulating multicellular organization and organ-specific functions
Q20. Which application uses cultured cells to produce recombinant proteins and biologics?
- Transgenic animal breeding only
- Mammalian cell expression systems (e.g., CHO cells)
- Soil microbial culture
- In vivo human trials
Correct Answer: Mammalian cell expression systems (e.g., CHO cells)
Q21. What is cell line authentication important for in research applications?
- To increase cross-contamination risk
- To ensure the identity and reproducibility of experimental results
- To make cultures grow faster
- To replace mycoplasma testing
Correct Answer: To ensure the identity and reproducibility of experimental results
Q22. Which in vitro model is most suitable for studying neuronal networks and synaptic function?
- Hepatic spheroids
- Primary neuronal cultures and iPSC-derived neurons
- CHO suspension cultures
- Adipocyte fat pads
Correct Answer: Primary neuronal cultures and iPSC-derived neurons
Q23. How are cultured cells used in genotoxicity assays?
- To measure soil contamination
- By assessing DNA damage using comet assay or micronucleus test
- To sequence genomes of bacteria only
- To measure blood glucose
Correct Answer: By assessing DNA damage using comet assay or micronucleus test
Q24. What is the purpose of serum supplementation in many cell culture media?
- To provide antibiotics exclusively
- To supply growth factors, hormones, and attachment factors
- To sterilize the culture vessel
- To prevent cell adhesion always
Correct Answer: To supply growth factors, hormones, and attachment factors
Q25. Which cultured cell application is used to generate transgenic cell lines for target validation?
- CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in cell culture
- Classical breeding of mice
- Soil enrichment cultures
- Routine blood typing
Correct Answer: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in cell culture
Q26. In bioprocessing, what is an advantage of suspension cell cultures?
- They cannot be scaled
- They facilitate large-scale production in bioreactors
- They only support bacterial growth
- They prevent nutrient exchange
Correct Answer: They facilitate large-scale production in bioreactors
Q27. How do cultured epithelial cell monolayers help in transporter studies?
- By measuring intracellular bacterial growth
- By providing polarized cells to assess directional transport
- By preventing any drug absorption
- By replacing clinical trials
Correct Answer: By providing polarized cells to assess directional transport
Q28. What is the significance of mycoplasma testing in cell culture applications?
- Mycoplasma increases protein yields
- Mycoplasma contamination alters cell physiology and invalidates results
- Mycoplasma prevents viral infections
- Testing is unnecessary for established cell lines
Correct Answer: Mycoplasma contamination alters cell physiology and invalidates results
Q29. Which assay format uses cultured cells to measure cytokine secretion?
- RNA-Seq only
- ELISA or multiplex bead-based assays on culture supernatants
- Gram staining
- Gas chromatography
Correct Answer: ELISA or multiplex bead-based assays on culture supernatants
Q30. Which cell culture approach is often used for toxicity screening of inhaled drugs?
- Hepatocyte 2D culture only
- Air–liquid interface cultures of respiratory epithelial cells
- Suspension culture of CHO cells
- Standard bacterial culture plates
Correct Answer: Air–liquid interface cultures of respiratory epithelial cells
Q31. In cancer research, how are cell cultures used to study metastasis?
- By using transwell migration and invasion assays
- Only by measuring blood sugar
- By culturing bone marrow stromal cells exclusively
- By ignoring extracellular matrix effects
Correct Answer: By using transwell migration and invasion assays
Q32. Which application involves using cell cultures to test nanoparticle drug delivery systems?
- Assessing particle uptake, cytotoxicity, and intracellular trafficking in cultured cells
- Only measuring nanoparticle color
- Soil adsorption studies
- Mass vaccination campaigns
Correct Answer: Assessing particle uptake, cytotoxicity, and intracellular trafficking in cultured cells
Q33. What is the role of cell culture in studying host–pathogen interactions?
- To culture pathogens without host cells
- To infect cultured host cells and monitor pathogen entry, replication, and host response
- To replace antibiotics in treatment
- To prevent immune responses entirely
Correct Answer: To infect cultured host cells and monitor pathogen entry, replication, and host response
Q34. Why are reporter gene assays in cell culture valuable for pharmacology?
- They quantify cellular responses to drugs via measurable reporters like luciferase
- They measure only pH changes
- They are irrelevant for receptor studies
- They cannot be automated
Correct Answer: They quantify cellular responses to drugs via measurable reporters like luciferase
Q35. Which culture condition is critical for maintaining oxygen-sensitive primary cells?
- Room atmosphere only
- Controlled oxygen tension (hypoxia chambers or incubators)
- Constant UV exposure
- High salt in media
Correct Answer: Controlled oxygen tension (hypoxia chambers or incubators)
Q36. How are cell cultures used in biomarker discovery?
- By producing clinical trials directly
- By enabling controlled perturbation and analysis of secreted proteins, transcripts, and metabolites
- By culturing only microbes
- By measuring bone density
Correct Answer: By enabling controlled perturbation and analysis of secreted proteins, transcripts, and metabolites
Q37. What is an advantage of using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in research?
- They cannot differentiate into multiple lineages
- They provide patient-specific cells for disease modelling and toxicity testing
- They always require feeder layers
- They are only used for bacterial assays
Correct Answer: They provide patient-specific cells for disease modelling and toxicity testing
Q38. Which assay in cultured cells assesses mitochondrial function relevant to drug toxicity?
- RBC sedimentation rate
- Seahorse XF assay for oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification
- Gram staining
- Thermogravimetric analysis
Correct Answer: Seahorse XF assay for oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification
Q39. How can cell culture models reduce reliance on animal testing?
- By providing in vitro alternatives for toxicity, efficacy, and mechanistic studies
- By increasing the number of animals used
- By eliminating regulatory requirements
- By always delivering exact clinical outcomes
Correct Answer: By providing in vitro alternatives for toxicity, efficacy, and mechanistic studies
Q40. Which cultured cell assay is commonly used to quantify apoptosis?
- Colony PCR
- Annexin V staining combined with flow cytometry
- Macroscopic visual inspection only
- Standard blood glucose test
Correct Answer: Annexin V staining combined with flow cytometry
Q41. In pharmacology, how are cultured cells used for target validation?
- By knocking down or overexpressing the target and observing phenotypic changes
- By testing only on humans immediately
- By ignoring molecular mechanisms
- By solely measuring pH
Correct Answer: By knocking down or overexpressing the target and observing phenotypic changes
Q42. What is a limitation of 2D cell culture models for drug testing?
- They perfectly model drug metabolism
- They often fail to represent 3D tissue architecture and gradients
- They cannot be used for any assay
- They automatically show in vivo toxicity
Correct Answer: They often fail to represent 3D tissue architecture and gradients
Q43. Which application uses cultured cells to evaluate immunogenicity of biologics?
- Mixed lymphocyte reaction and T-cell activation assays using immune cell cultures
- Only bacterial culture susceptibility tests
- Atmospheric CO2 measurements
- Standard urine analysis
Correct Answer: Mixed lymphocyte reaction and T-cell activation assays using immune cell cultures
Q44. How are biosensors integrated with cell cultures in research?
- To monitor cellular responses in real-time such as metabolic changes or signalling
- To sterilize media
- To replace microscopes entirely
- To prevent cell adhesion only
Correct Answer: To monitor cellular responses in real-time such as metabolic changes or signalling
Q45. Which method is used to assess protein expression changes in cultured cells after drug treatment?
- Western blotting and immunocytochemistry
- Soil nutrient assays
- Gasoline chromatography
- Visual inspection of media color
Correct Answer: Western blotting and immunocytochemistry
Q46. What is a key consideration when scaling up cell cultures for biologics production?
- Ignoring shear stress effects
- Optimizing culture parameters, shear conditions, and nutrient supply in bioreactors
- Reducing monitoring to once per month
- Using only static flasks
Correct Answer: Optimizing culture parameters, shear conditions, and nutrient supply in bioreactors
Q47. Which application uses cultured cells for drug–drug interaction studies?
- Using hepatocyte cultures to assess CYP enzyme induction or inhibition
- Only running clinical Phase IV studies
- Plant cell cultures for herbicide testing
- Measuring blood pressure
Correct Answer: Using hepatocyte cultures to assess CYP enzyme induction or inhibition
Q48. How are reporter cell lines valuable for high-throughput screening?
- They generate non-quantifiable endpoints
- They provide rapid, quantifiable readouts for pathway-specific activity
- They are incompatible with automation
- They always require primary cells
Correct Answer: They provide rapid, quantifiable readouts for pathway-specific activity
Q49. Which culture application helps evaluate drug penetration in solid tumors?
- 2D monolayer diffusion assays only
- 3D tumor spheroid penetration assays
- Microbial agar diffusion tests
- Standard blood serum assays
Correct Answer: 3D tumor spheroid penetration assays
Q50. What is an important quality control measure for reproducible cell culture-based research?
- Ignoring cell passage number
- Documenting passage number, mycoplasma status, authentication, and media composition
- Never validating reagents
- Changing protocols weekly without records
Correct Answer: Documenting passage number, mycoplasma status, authentication, and media composition
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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