Abstract
The WST-1 assay is the most common test to assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of chemicals. Tetrazolium-based assays can, however, be affected by the interference of tested chemicals, including carbon nanotubes or Mg particles. Here, we report a new interference of Mn materials with the WST-1 assay. Endothelial cells exposed to Mn particles (Mn alone or Fe-Mn alloy from 50 to 1600 μg/ml) were severely damaged according to the WST-1 assay, but not the ATP content assay. Subsequent experiments revealed that Mn particles interfere with the reduction of the tetrazolium salt to formazan. Therefore, the WST-1 assay is not suitable to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of Mn-containing materials, and luminescence-based assays such as CellTiter-Glo® appear more appropriate.
Highlights
Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, biodegradable metals represent a new generation of biomedical materials used as temporary implants in vascular intervention or osteosynthesis [1, 2]
We explored if Twinning Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steel particles react with the WST-1 reagent and block the formazan formation
The Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) response to TWIP steel or 316L steel particles or corrosion extracts was examined using two different assays based on different readouts, mitochondrial dehydrogenases and ATP content
Summary
Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, biodegradable metals represent a new generation of biomedical materials used as temporary implants in vascular intervention or osteosynthesis [1, 2] These novel biodegradable metals have revolutionized the traditional idea of permanent devices, avoiding persistent physical irritation, chronic inflammation, the need for prolonged anti-platelet aggregation therapy, and possible surgery for removing the implant [3]. These materials are designed to corrode in vivo while keeping an appropriate therapeutic function until final disappearance.
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