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Cytotoxicity screening of surfactant-based shampoos using a multiwell fluorescence scanner: Correlation with Draize
P Merrick1, A L Nieminen, R A Harper
1Laboratories for Cell Biology, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7090, USA.
Abstract:
The irritancy potential of seven shampoos was evaluated by a rapid cytotoxicity assay in cultured human keratinocytes and rat hepatocytes. Loss of cell viability was estimated from increases in propidium iodide fluorescence measured using a multiwell fluorescence scanner. The concentration of shampoo causing a 50% loss of cell viability after 15 min of incubation (V(50)) was determined by probit analysis. Log V(50) measured in human keratinocytes showed a strong negative correlation (r = -0.95; P <0.001) with Draize eye scores in rabbits. Log V(50) measured in rat hepatocytes did not show a statistically significant correlation with Draize eye scores. The results indicate that cytotoxicity screening of human keratinocytes using propidium iodide and a multiwell fluorescence scanner is highly predictive of Draize eye scores for surfactant-containing shampoos.

