Cytotoxicity profiling of deep eutectic solvents to human skin cells

Area of Science:

• Green chemistry and materials science
• Toxicology and biocompatibility assessment
• Dermatology and pharmaceutical formulation

Background:

• Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are tunable solvents with potential applications in health industries.
• Despite being termed 'green' solvents, the potential toxicity of DES requires thorough investigation.
• Understanding DES cytotoxicity is crucial for their safe application in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cytotoxicity of various deep eutectic solvents (DES) on skin cell models.
• To identify specific hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA) and hydrogen bond donors (HBD) influencing DES biocompatibility.
• To assess the potential of DES for use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized HaCaT (keratinocytes) and MNT-1 (melanocytes) cell lines as skin models.
• Assessed cell viability using the MTT assay to determine DES cytotoxicity.
• Investigated the effects of three HBAs ([Chol]Cl, [N1111]Cl, [N4444]Cl) and three HBDs (fatty acids, glycols, urea).

Main Results:

• DES based on [Chol]Cl and [N1111]Cl demonstrated good biocompatibility with tested skin cells.
• [N4444]Cl-based DES exhibited cytotoxicity, with the HBA identified as the primary toxic driver.
• Several compounds, including [Chol]Cl, ethylene glycol, hexanoic acid, and urea, enhanced HaCaT cell viability.

Conclusions:

• The biocompatibility of DES is highly dependent on the specific HBA and HBD used.
• [Chol]Cl and [N1111]Cl-based DES show promise for safe use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.
• Further research into DES that enhance cell viability could lead to novel therapeutic and cosmetic ingredients.