Biocompatibility of magnesium particles evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays

A.L. DI VIRGILIO; M. REIGOSA; FERNÁNDEZ LORENZO DE MELE, M

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART B-APPLIED BIOMATERIALS

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Año: 2011 vol. 99 p. 111 - 119

1552-4973

Mg is a biodegradable biomaterial which may release particles (MP) to the environment. The possible cyto- and genotoxic effects of MP derived from magnesium powder (mesh 325) were analyzed on rat osteosarcoma UMR106 cells in order simulate the effect of Mg debris. Neutral red (NR) incorporation and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining techniques were used as endpoints to analyze the cytotoxic effects at 25-1000 µg/mL concentration range. Genotoxicity was estimated according to micronucleus (MN) formation and the Comet assay (CA). Results showed that MP size changes with time due to corrosion. Changes in lysosomal activity were observed after 24h only at 1000 µg/mL. Accordingly, AO/EB staining showed a significant decrease in the number of living cells at 500 µg/mL. Transmission electronic microscopy showed MP internalization (60 and 200nm diameter) in cells after 2h-treatment while no MP were detected after 24h. A significant dose-dependent increase in MN frequencies was observed at 25-100 µg/mL range (non toxic range). DNA damage induction was assessed by CA only at 500 µg/mL. Results showed dose-dependent cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of MP on UMR106 cells with different threshold values of MP concentration.