| Abstrak/Abstract |
Background. Synthetic fibers have many benefits in clinical practice; however, they cause
microplastic pollution, and their unaffordable price increases treatment costs. Natural silk fibers
require biocompatibility assessment. This study investigated the effects of natural and synthetic
fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) on the cytotoxicity of fibroblast cell lines.
Methods. Three commercial synthetic fibers (polyethylene, quartz, and E-glass) and two silk
fibers from Bombyx mori and Samia ricini cocoons were employed. These fibers were made into
FRC samples (n = 6) by impregnation in flowable composite using a brass mold (25 × 2 × 2 mm).
NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium, supplemented,
and seeded in 2 × 10
4
cells/mL. They were stored at 37 °C under 5% CO2
for 24 hours. The FRC
samples were made into powder, eluted in dimethylsulfoxide, continued with PBS, supplemented
with Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium (DMEM), and exposed to cells for 24 hours. Blank
(medium only) and control (cells and medium) samples were included. Subsequently, MTT was
added for 4 h and read by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (λ = 570 nm). Cell viability (%)
was calculated and analyzed using one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05).
Results. All groups of FRCs showed > 80% cell viability. One-way ANOVA showed no significant
difference between FRC groups regarding the viability of fibroblast cell lines (P > 0.05).
Conclusion. Both natural silk and synthetic fibers exhibit low cytotoxicity to fibroblast cell lines.
B. mori and S. ricini silk fibers showed the potential to be used as alternative synthetic fibers. |
