In vitro cytotoxicity testing of neodymium-iron-boron magnets

Neodymium-iron-boron magnets are being increasingly used in orthodontic and orthopedic appliances. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of these new "super" magnets. A modified agar overlay technique was performed using both L929 mouse fibroblasts and adult human oral mucosal fibroblasts. The neodyium-iron-boron magnets were tested in the following forms: uncoated magnetized, uncoated demagnetized, parylene coated demagnetized, and parylene coated magnetized. Results revealed that uncoated magnetized, uncoated demagnetized, and parylene coated magnetized were cytotoxic to both L929 mouse fibroblasts and human oral mucosal fibroblasts. However the parylene coated demagnetized neodymium magnets were only cytotoxic to the human mucosal fibroblasts. This study supports the hypothesis that these are cytotoxic effects of possibly corrosion products and of magnetism. The specific toxic effects of parylene were not examined in this present study. Statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.014) suggested that, in this experiment, the human oral mucosal fibroblasts were more sensitive to the effects of these rare earth magnets. With the evidence of a biological effect, the use of implanted magnets must at present be limited until the safety can be assured.