Evaluation of the Extraction Method for the Cytotoxicity Testing of Latex Gloves

• Published in: Yonsei medical journal Vol. 46; no. 4; pp. 579 - 583
• Main Authors: Baek, Hyun Sook, Yoo, Ja Young, Rah, Dong Kyun, Han, Dong-Wook, Lee, Dong Hee, Kwon, Oh-Hun, Park, Jong-Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Yonsei University College of Medicine 31.08.2005; 연세대학교의과대학
• Subjects: Animals; Brief Communication; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Culture Media; Gloves, Protective; Latex - isolation & purification; Latex - toxicity; Mice; Temperature; Toxicity Tests - methods; 의학일반
• ISSN: 0513-5796; 1976-2437
• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2005.46.4.579

In this study, the cytotoxicity of medical latex gloves to cultured L-929 cells was determined using various extraction conditions. According to the extraction time and temperature, three types of extraction conditions were used: 1) 24 h at 37 degrees C; 2) 72 h at 37 degrees C; 3) 72 h at 50 degrees C. Also, four different extraction vehicles were used, namely, distilled water (DW), 9 g/l sodium chloride (saline) in DW, and culture media with or without serum. Under the above-mentioned conditions, the samples were extracted and then 2-fold serially diluted in the concentration range 3.13 - 50%. When extracted with either DW or saline for 24 h or 72 h at 37 degrees C, only 50% diluted samples showed distinct cytotoxicity to L-929 cells. Moreover, no cytotoxic potentials were observed when gloves were extracted with DW or saline at 50 degrees C for 72 h. Cytotoxicity was markedly greater when gloves were extracted with culture medium, irrespective of the presence of serum in the medium. These results suggest that optimal extraction conditions should be established for the cytotoxicity evaluations of biomaterials and medical devices.