Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of dental materials in human lymphocytes as assessed by the single cell microgel electrophoresis (comet) assay

Objectives. Resin monomers may be released from restorative dental materials and can diffuse into the tooth pulp or the gingiva, and can reach the sativa and the circulating blood. Whereas the cytotoxic potential of some components has been clearly documented, possible genotoxicity in human target cells demands further investigation. Methods. The Comet assay was used to quantify DNA single strand breaks, alkali labile and incomplete excision repair sites in lymphocytes of 10 volunteers The xenobiotics investigated were 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), triethyl-eneglycoldimethacrylate (TEGDMA), urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), and bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA) with N-methyt-m-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and dimethyl. sulfoxide as controls. DNA migration was quantified using the tail moment according to Olive (OTM) and DNA migration was considered to be elevated at OTM levels above 2. Cytotoxicity was monitored using trypan blue. Results. In the negative controls, OTM ranged between 1.0 and 1.2. With HEMA concentrations above 10(-6) M, TEGDMA 10(-3) M, Bis-GMA 10(-4) M, and UDMA above 10(-6) M relevant enhancements of DNA migration (OTM > 2) were achieved. At higher concentrations of up to 2.5 x 10(-2) induced DNA migration was expressed by OTM of 3.3 for HEMA, 4.5 for TEGDMA, 7.4 for Bis-GMA, and 2.8 for UDMA. Relevant cytotoxic effects were also seen but vitality levels were at a critical, range of 71% for Bis-GMA and 73% for TEGDMA, only. Significance. In higher concentration levels, all tested substances induced significant but minor enhancement of DNA migration in the Comet assay as a possible sign for limited genotoxic effects. However, with the highest levels of DNA migration being combined with elevated cytotoxic effects, a low in vivo genotoxic strain appears to be posed by the resin components. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.