Influence of Soft and Stiff Matrices on Cytotoxicity in Gingival Fibroblasts: Implications for Soft Tissue Biocompatibility

Abstract

The biocompatibility of dental materials is critical for ensuring safety in clinical applications. However, standard in vitro cytotoxicity assays often rely on stiff tissue culture plastic (TCP), which does not accurately replicate the biomechanical properties of soft oral tissues. In this study, we compared human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) cultured on soft, gel-based substrates mimicking gingival tissue stiffness (0.2 kPa) with those cultured on conventional TCP (3 GPa) to assess the influence of substrate stiffness on the cytotoxicity of methyl methacrylate (MMA), as well as other cytotoxic agents, including DMSO and H2O2. The results demonstrated that cells cultured on softer substrates exhibited enhanced resistance to cytotoxic stress, with increased viability and decreased apoptosis and DNA damage following exposure to MMA, DMSO, and H2O2. Notably, HGFs on soft substrates showed significantly greater resilience to MMA-induced cytotoxicity compared to those cultured on TCP. These findings emphasize the critical role of substrate stiffness in modulating cellular responses to toxic agents and highlight the necessity of using physiologically relevant models for cytotoxicity testing of dental materials. This study provides valuable insights for improving biocompatibility assessment protocols in clinical settings.