Toxicity and association of polycyanoacrylate nanoparticles with hepatocytes

Abstract

The degradation of polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBC) and polyhexylcyanoacrylate (PHC) nanoparticles, together with their association with and toxicity towards isolated hepatocytes, were determined. Nanoparticles were not taken up by rat hepatocytes at a significant level. The LD50S of PBC and PHC nanoparticles towards hepatocytes were 0.4 mg/2 x 10(6) cells and greater than 1 mg/2 x 10(6) cells respectively. This hepatocyte toxicity cannot be attributed solely to the formaldehyde formed during degradation.