Abstract

Background: Evaluation of the toxic effects of nanoparticle-drug in vitro is an important step in the design of new pharmaceutical formulations. Rapid results, reduced cost and easy handling make cell culture models first line in initial toxicological assessment of nano-drug preparations.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of oxytetracycline loaded calcium carbonate aragonite nanoparticle in normal mouse fibroblast (NIH3T3) cell line.

Methods: NIH3T3 cells were exposed to varying concentrations (6.25-100 μg/mL) of calcium carbonate aragonite nanoparticle (CS-CaCO₃NP), oxytetracycline loaded calcium carbonate aragonite nanoparticle (OTC-CS-CaCO₃NP) and oxytetracycline (OTC) in 96 well plates for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell viability was determined by MTT and trypan blue assays.

Results: Both assays showed that CS-CaCO₃NP and OTC-CS-CaCO₃NP had higher cell viability values compared to OTC.

Conclusion: Encapsulating OTC into CS-CaCO₃NP reduced its cytotoxicity to NIH3T3 cells using both MTT and trypan blue assay.

Keywords: Normal mouse fibroblast, cytotoxicity, MTT, trypan blue assay, oxytetracycline, nanomedicine.