Cytotoxicity of alkyl-2-cyanoacrylate adhesives

The cytotoxicity of methyl- and isobutyl-2-cyanoacrylate adhesives was determined using a rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte suspension. Cell degranulation increased and migration decreased on addition of the alkyl-2-cyanoacrylates to the suspension in a concentration-dependent manner. When acetylsalicylic acid or indomethacin, inhibitors of prostaglandin H synthase, were present, the cytotoxicity observed on addition of the adhesives to the leukocytes decreased up to eightfold in a dose-dependent manner as detected by trypan blue exclusion. Likewise, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase lowered such cytotoxicity resulting from the cyanoacrylates up to eight- and sevenfold, respectively. The data suggested that the adhesives may have generated lipid hydroperoxides that activated prostaglandin and thromboxane biosynthesis, and participated in membranal oxidation and lysis. Such a mechanism may contribute to understanding the thrombotic events associated with the necrosis observed on application of these adhesives to tissues in vivo.