TOXICITY OF CYANOACRYLATES IN-VITRO USING EXTRACT DILUTION ASSAY ON CELL-CULTURES

Comparative cytotoxicity testing of four cyanoacrylate adhesives sugge sted for orthopaedic applications was performed. These substances were placed in complete culture medium with serum and the resulting extrac tion fluids were tested on L 929 cells and human lymphocytes. Testing procedures include cell morphology assessment using light microscopy a nd vital dyes, cell counting using a computer-assisted image analysis system, cell growth measurement using total protein content assay and cell viability assessment using the MTT method. Quantitation of the to xicity of the degradation products released by cyanoacrylates in the e xtracts was achieved and differences in the cytopathic effect related to the chemical composition of the cyanoacrylates were found. A toxici ty rating of the assayed cyanoacrylate adhesives was obtained as follo ws (in order of increasing toxicity): BCA < xCA < ECAg < ECAl.