title: Assessment of the effect of distance and duration of illumination on retinal pigment epithelial cells exposed to varying doses of Brilliant Blue Green.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the cytotoxicity of varying concentrations of Brilliant Blue Green (BBG) on human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cells exposed to metal halide surgical endoilluminator (SE) at varying distances of illumination.
  
  
  METHODS
  HRPE (ARPE-19) were exposed to 2 concentrations (0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL) of BBG and illuminated with SE for 1, 5, and 15 min. Illumination (measured with light meter) was positioned at varying distances (1 and 2.5 cm) to mimic surgical distance of illumination. Cell viability (WST-1 assay) as well as structural changes in cells was quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 1 cm distance of illumination, 0.25 mg/mL BBG decreased viability of HRPE to 89.6%±4.3%, 83.9%±10.9%, and 38.9%±5.1% of controls after 1, 5, and 15 min of exposure, respectively. Similarly, 0.5 mg/mL BBG at 1 cm distance of illumination reduced the viability of HRPE to 93.7%±2.8%, 59.6%±16%, and 34.7%±3.5% of controls. At the distance of 2.5 cm, HRPE showed improved viability; cells exposed to 0.25 mg/mL BBG maintained 98.85%±3.3%, 95.31%±7.12%, and 62.07%±3.0% of viability compared with controls after 1, 5, and 15 min of exposure. Morphometric evaluation of RPE cells showed increased width (swelling) of HRPE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BBG at its clinically used concentration (0.25 mg/mL) during vitreoretinal surgery is safe and not toxic to HRPE for up to 5 min under focal illumination (1 cm) and up to 15 min under diffuse illumination (2.5 cm) from the commonly used SE. RESULTS of our study are useful in establishing safety parameters for the use of BBG dye in vitreoretinal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine , Jacksonville, Florida.
authors.forename: Sankarathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balaiya
authors.forename: Keyvan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koushan
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McLauchlan
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Chalam
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C004692:coomassie Brilliant Blue