title: Cytotoxic evaluation of cubic boron nitride in human origin cultured cells.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cubic boron nitride (cBN), a component of surgical cutting tools. The small quantities of cBN that typically remain on implants as a result of the manufacturing process may act as abrasives, injuring tissues surrounding the implant. To determine how cBN affects cells, we treated human neuroblastoma cells (NB-1) and human articular chondrocytes (nHAC-kn) with different concentrations of cBN powder and assessed cell growth and cell survival using the methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium (MTT) assay and a fluorescence probe assay. We also assessed the effects of tungsten carbide (WC) and cobalt (Co), two common components of joint implants, on cell growth and cell survival. Both cBN and WC moderately inhibited NB-1 and nHAC-kn cell growth. However, cBN and WC did not affect cell survival, even at high concentrations (40 microg/ml). By contrast, Co affected cell survival, inducing cell death in both cell types at increasing concentrations. These results suggest that cBN may be less toxic than WC alloys containing Co.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Ho-3, Kanagawa-machi, Kanazawa 920-1181, Japan. k-koga@hokuriku-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaji
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirosaki
authors.forename: Yukako
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hata
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fujishita
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shintani
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000633:toxicity*; D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D003035:Cobalt / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D010316:Particle Size; D011208:Powders
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001896:Boron Compounds; D011208:Powders; C017282:boron nitride; D003035:Cobalt