Evaluation of genotoxic and immunotoxic activities of potential glucose biosensor components: ferrocenes

Three ferrocenes used in glucose biosensor construction mere tested in the aspect of genotoxic and immunotoxic activities. All three ferrocenes were n ot mutagenic in the standard bacterial Ames test. Equally in the Sister Chr omatid Exchanges test in hunan lymphocyte cultures, the genotoxic action of tested ferrocenes could be excluded. However, all three significantly decr eased the rate of lymphocyte proliferation and especially diminished the nu mbers of B-lymphocytes and NK-cells after 72 hours of in vitro culture. Mar ked differences between the ferrocenes in their immunotoxic activities were noticed, and we were able to select those which mould be relatively safe a nd those which should be avoided in further investigation of the glucose bi osensor construction. Our results indicate the necessity to estimate immuno toxic effects as well as genotoxic effects, especially in biosensor compone nts potentially used in vivo.