title: Cytotoxic Effect of Voriconazole on Human Corneal Epithelial Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the cytotoxic properties of voriconazole and sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBECD) on cultured primary human corneal epithelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human corneal epithelial cells were cultured and exposed to various concentrations of SBECD (0.016-32 mg/ml) and voriconazole (0.001-2 mg/ml). Cellular cytotoxicity of SBECD and voriconazole on human corneal epithelial cells was evaluated using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide test and the LIVE/DEAD Viability/Cytotoxicity Assay with fluorescence microscopy analysis. Cell damage was assessed with phase-contrast microscopy after 24 h of exposure to SBECD and voriconazole.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cytotoxicity tests and the morphological characteristic demonstrated the dose-dependent toxic effect of SBECD and voriconazole on human corneal epithelial cells. No corneal epithelial cytotoxicity was observed below the concentration of 0.08 and 0.025 mg/ml after 24-hour exposure to SBECD and voriconazole, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study reveal the dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of SBECD and voriconazole on cultured human corneal epithelial cells. Therefore, voriconazole eye drops should be used cautiously in the treatment of fungal corneal ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Center for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bianka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sobolewska
authors.forename: Guelhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerel
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Bayyoud
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarek
authors.forename: Karl-Ulrich
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Bartz-Schmidt
authors.forename: Efdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yoeruek
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D065819:Voriconazole / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D065819:Voriconazole