In vivo tissue/biomaterials toxic responses: Correlation with cytotoxic potential but not cell attachment

Abstract

The relationships between cell attachment, cytotoxicity and in vivo tissue response such as muscle inflammation and eye irritation were investigated using lens materials, radiation vulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) and standard reference materials (SRM). Five RVNRL materials, which induced muscle tissue inflammation, were cytotoxic and also significantly decreased cell attachment activities. The cytotoxic potential of a SRM made of segmented polyurethane correlated well with the decrease in cell attachment activity. However, among lens materials, cytotoxicity was detected in fluorosilicone acrylate but not in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), although the cell attachment activity of PMMA was the lowest. Eye irritation induced by wearing various kinds of lenses correlated with cytotoxic potential ( r = −0·90) but not with cell attachment activities. In conclusion, in vivo toxic tissue responses correlated well with cytotoxic potentials but not always with cell attachment activity. Our experimental results also showed that direct contact colony formation was mainly inhibited by cytotoxicity, but not the low activity of cell attachment.