Investigating the cytotoxic effect of polyethyleneimine nanodendrimer on fibroblast cells

Oral health is associated with an individual's overall health and daily function, as well as having an impact on mental health. As such, this study evaluated the cytotoxic and biocompatibility profile of fourth-generation polyethyleneimine (PEI) nanodendrimers using a human gingival fibroblast cell line [1]. The aim was to determine the concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effects of PEI nanodendrimers to assess their suitability for potential dental applications.

This laboratory study investigated the potential cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of fourth-generation PEI nanodendrimers. PEI nanodendrimers were synthesized, and their cytotoxic effects were tested on human gingival fibroblast cells (2PI2HGF) at varying concentrations (1-128 µg/mL) over 48 and 72 hours. Viability of the cells was determined by MTT assay, and growth curves were constructed to determine the rate of cell proliferation in response to the addition of the PEI dendrimer.

Cytotoxicity was shown to increase with increasing concentrations of PEI dendrimers. For example, after 48 and 72 hours of exposure to a range of concentrations (1-128 µg/mL), viability levels dropped from 99.18% to 67.7% and 97.3% to 65.1%, respectively. It should also be noted that the extent of reduced cell viability was influenced by both the duration of exposure and the dendrimer concentration.

These results indicate that while PEI dendrimers show significant potential for use in dentistry, they also demonstrate considerable cytotoxicity and subsequent concern over their biocompatibility. Future research should therefore focus on improving the safety and efficacy of dendrimer materials in the context of developing therapies for oral health. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence on nanomaterials in dentistry and highlight the need to balance antimicrobial efficacy with acceptable cytotoxicity for clinical translation.