Cytotoxicity of protic ionic liquids towards the HaCat cell line derived from human skin

Abstract In this work we have investigated the toxicity of 10 PILs, consisting of ethyl-, ethanol-, diethanol- and triethanolammonium cations paired with nitrate, formate, acetate and glycolate anions. Their toxicity was quantified by the EC50 values of each of these PILs towards HaCat cells, which are derived from human skin cells. Additional salts and solvents were used for comparison including DMSO, choline chloride, potassium nitrate, sodium acetate and ethanol to distinguish if the toxicity changes were due to ionicity, short chain amphiphilic behaviour, or specific ion effects. The toxicity followed the general trend of choline chloride