SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP30160S

In Vitro Toxicity Testing: A Quantitative Microassay

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In vitro methods for testing the toxicity of biomaterials have many advantages over in vivo tests. They are more sensitive, simpler, more reproducible, rapid, inexpensive, easily duplicated, adaptable, and conservative of test materials. The microassay in use in our laboratory has the additional advantages of being quantitative, not requiring extensive microscopic observation or the presence of materials that may themselves be toxic (for example, agar and dyes), measuring parameters of cellular activity other than cell death, and being suitable for screening of a large number of specimens. The material to be evaluated, or in the case of insoluble materials an extract of the material, is incubated on monolayers of fibroblasts in 24 well culture plates. The activity of the fibroblasts is ascertained by measuring the rate of incorporation of 3H-thymidine, 35SO4, or 3H-tryptophan. By proper choice of label, the effect of the biomaterial on cellular proliferation or production of macromolecules or both may be assessed. Materials that are cytotoxic cause inhibition of incorporation of radioactive label in the assay. Cell monolayers are also inspected microscopically for evidence of cytotoxicity. Examples are given to demonstrate use of the microassay.

Author Information

Ulreich, JB
University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
Chvapil, M
University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
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Details
Developed by Committee: F04
Pages: 102–113
DOI: 10.1520/STP30160S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4876-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0249-1