Cytotoxicity of Different Degrees of De-Acetylated Chitosan on 3T3- and Two Human Tooth Fibroblast Cell-Lines

Abstract

Nowadays chitosan becomes more and more important as a drug carrier. In this study the influence of different\rdegrees of de-acetylation of chitosan on the cytotoxicity were investigated.\rMaterials and Methods: Chitosan (87%, 70% and 40% de-acetylated) was analysed for their cytotoxic effect on\rmouse Balb/c 3T3 fibroblast cells as well as two different human tooth pulp fibroblast cell-lines. The cell survival\rrate was determined over a 24 hour period according to the standard MTT assay.\rResults: The Univariate ANOVA test showed significant differences in the cell survival rates (p<0.01) amongst\r87% and 70% and 40% de-acetylated chitosan products for the 3T3 as well as the two pulp fibroblast cell-lines.\rSignificant differences were also found between both tooth cell-lines and the 3T3 cell-line at all 3 different deacetylated\rchitosan levels. The 3T3 cell line was mostly affected at 40% de-acetylation. The difference between\rboth human cell-lines was not significant.\rConclusion: The lower the degree of chitosan de-acetylation the less the cell survival rate while an 87% deacetylation\rdegree improved the cell survival rate. Different cell lines react differently towards different degrees\rof de-acetylation. The relative survival rates of different cell lines changed at different degrees of de-acetylation.