ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant disease that affects the oral cavity. Lidocaine has shown antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity on several cell types. The rapid dispersion is a limitation issue; however, the complexation in cyclodextrin improved pharmacological features and modified the drug release. This study investigated the effects of lidocaine (lido) complexed with 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD-lido) on cell viability and proliferation of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma SCC9 and SCC25. METHODS: The complex formation was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cells SCC9 and SCC25 were exposed to lido and HP-ß-CD-lido (40-4000 µm), and the effects on cell viability (MTT) and antiproliferative activity (SRB) were tested. KEY FINDINGS: Differential scanning calorimetry and SEM results demonstrated the occurrence of host-guest interaction. Lido and HP-ß-CD-lido (4000 µm) significantly reduced the viability of SCC9 cells to 83% and 63%, respectively. The viability of SCC25 treated with lido, and HP-ß-CD-lido (4000 µm) was 71% and 44%, respectively. Lido (4000 µm) reduced the proliferation of SCC9 and SCC25 to 39.5% and 23.7%, respectively. HP-ß-CD-lido (4000 µm) was cytotoxic for both cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: HP-ß-CD was able to potentiate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of lidocaine on human squamous cell carcinoma.