Cytotoxicity of polymerized commercial cyanoacrylate adhesive on cultured human oral fibroblasts

Cyanoacrylate (CA) has been used as both a commercial and tissue adhesive. Dentists may have had the experience of patients repairing their own acryli c-based dentures using a cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive known as 'super glue'. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of commercial CA adhesives when full y polymerized, as well as the toxicity of substances released from polymeri zed commercial CA adhesives after incubation of these materials for various periods of time. Toxicity was tested on cultured oral fibroblasts. Dead ce lls found around the various CA-coated filter papers constituted inhibitory zones which varied from 200-1000 mu m and which persisted for two weeks. C ontrol oral fibroblasts grew to approach the wax-coated filter paper. Cell viability testing using MTT and crystal violet staining methods supported t he conclusion that polymerized CA-coated filter paper released substances t hat are toxic to cells, while wax-coated filter paper gave the same result as the control. The crystal violet staining method was also used to investi gate the cytotoxicity of various CA materials after incubation for one, thr ee, seven and 14 days and showed that CA continued to release cytotoxic sub stances at about the same level for at least two weeks. It can be concluded that, if CA adhesive is used for repair of broken dentures, it will releas e substances which are toxic to human oral fibroblast cells. This release o f substances may persist for at least two weeks.