In vitro cellular detoxification of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate by adduct formation with N-acetylcysteine

Abstract Objective Various protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) against triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA)-induced cell damage have been demonstrated, but so far there is no evidence on NAC direct monomer detoxification mechanism. Here, we hypothesized that NAC might reduce TEGDMA cytotoxicity due to direct NAC adduct formation. Methods We measured the cytotoxic effects of TEGDMA in presence and in absence of NAC by MTT test. Then we analyzed the presence of TEGDMA–NAC adduct formation in extracellular and intracellular compartments by capillary electrophoresis–UV detection (CE–UV) and capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (CE–MS) analytical techniques. Moreover, we quantified the effective intracellular and extracellular TEGDMA concentrations through HPLC in the presence and absence of 10 mmol/L NAC. Results TEGDMA reduced 3T3 cell vitality in a dose- and time-dependent manner, while NAC decreased monomer cytotoxicity and extracellular monomer concentrations by a direct reaction with TEGDMA. The adducts between the two molecules were detected both in the presence and absence of cell. Moreover a signal ascribed to the methacrylic acid was present in the CE–UV electropherogram of cellular lysates obtained after incubation with TEGDMA. Significance Our results suggest that in vitro detoxification capability of NAC against TEGDMA-induced cell damage might occur also through the formation of NAC–TEGDMA adduct.