Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the exposure of human lymphocytes to a calcium phosphate cement in vitro.

The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of a phosphate bone cement on human peripheral lymphocyte cultures exposed for 48 hr were determined. The mitotic index and the integrity of the DNA molecule were used as biocompatibility markers. It was found that the cement was not cytotoxic, but genotoxic at concentrations of >/=100 microg/ml. The cement was also characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). (Journal of Applied Biomaterials and Biomechanics 2005; 3: 29-34).