Comparation between chlorhexidine and BlueM® cytotoxicity when applied to a human gingival fibroblast cell line (HGF-1): in vitro study

• Grant number: 19/26431-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2020
• End date: August 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Valfrido Antonio Pereira Filho
• Grantee: Gustavo D'Angieri Saugo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chlorhexidine has been widely used as a major bactericidal agent. However, the literature demonstrated its cytotoxic potential on fibroblasts, osteoblasts and negatively acting on angiogenesis. These cells actively participate in the repair and maintenance process of oral tissue homeostasis. In contrast, BlueM® emerged with the objective of favoring the repair of oral tissues through the release of reactive oxygen. In theory, this feature would allow advantages over chlorhexidine, and can be used adjunctively in postoperative procedures such as bone grafts. This study aims to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of chlorhexidine at different concentrations on fibroblasts and then compare the results with those of BlueM® in the same cell line. HGF-1 human gingival fibroblast cell line will be cultured in complete DMEM culture medium and chlorhexidine and BlueM® solutions will be diluted in culture medium to achieve in vitro treatment concentrations. Subsequently, cell viability will be evaluated by cell counting and XTT colorimetric assay. Additionally, HGF-1 cell proliferation will be determined by flow cytometry using Ki-67 labeling. Finally, the migratory capacity of chlorhexidine or BlueM® incubated HGF-1 fibroblasts will be assessed by the monolayer migration assay. Data will be submitted to Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney test (depending on data distribution) with the aid of GraphPad InStat software (GraphPad, USA) considering a significance level of 5% (p <0.05).