Evaluation of the genotoxic potential of some nanocomposites by comet assay

Abstract

Due to its similar nature to the bone, nanohydroxyapatite is abiocompatible particle and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)is a polymer that has been used in dentistry and orthopedicapplications for years. In this study, genotoxic potential ofPMMA/Nanohydroxyapatite nanocomposite films composed ofpolymers having different molecular weights and nanohydroxyap-atite fillers in different concentrations (1, 2.5 and 5%) were inves-tigated by comet assay which is a kind of gel electrophoresis thatcan be used to measure DNA damage in individual cells. If theDNA is damaged we expect broken ends to migrate apart fromthe head. At the end of the assay performed after incubationwith lymphocytes of healthy humans, we measured the DNADamage Index (DDI) and Percentage of Damaged Cells (PDC).In addition, to prove the morphological properties of thenanocomposites scanning electron microscope was used and aninteraction between the matrix and nanoparticles with a homoge-neous dispersion was observed.