Objectives

Phenylbis(acyl) phosphine oxide (BAPO) and diphenyl(acyl) phosphine oxide (TPO) are alternative photoinitiators to camphorquinone (CQ) in dental resinous materials. Aim of this study was to investigate their cytotoxic/genotoxic potential in human oral keratinocytes (OKF6/Tert2) and Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79) in comparison to CQ.

Methods

Cells were exposed to different concentrations of BAPO and TPO (1–50 μM). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using H33342 and MTT assay, cell proliferation by BrdU proliferation assay and microscopy. Effects on cellular redox homeostasis were assessed by detecting intracellular levels of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) using the DCFH₂ assay and by quantification of mRNA expression of oxidatively regulated, cyto-protective enzymes. Genotoxic potential was determined by use of micronucleus (MN) assay.

Results

BAPO and TPO induced a concentration-dependent decrease of cell number. BAPO and TPO showed 50- to 250-fold higher cytotoxicity than CQ. In contrast to CQ, both photoinitiators revealed no increase of intracellular ROS/RNS. However, BAPO (10 μM) at least significantly induced mRNA-expression of redox-regulated proteins after 24 h similar to 2.5 mM CQ. Additionally, BAPO significantly raised the number of micronuclei, but only in V79 cells (10 μM: 12 ± 1, 2.5 mM CQ: 15 ± 1, medium control: 6 ± 3). However, it also significantly decreased proliferation of these cells (10 μM BAPO: 19.8% ± 7.3% compared to controls).

Significance

BAPO and TPO revealed concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects in human oral keratinocytes and V79 cells. However, in contrast to CQ, no generation of intracellular ROS/RNS was found. Only BAPO induced genotoxicity in V79 cells.