Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in multiple organs induced by titanium miniplates in Wistar rats.

Internal fixture materials are currently used as metallic biomaterials in rehabilitation of human body. Nevertheless, metal release due to corrosion phenomena appears to play a crucial role for human health. Thus, the goal of the present study was to evaluate whether liver, kidney, and lung are particularly sensitive organs for DNA damaging and cytotoxicity following implantation of internal fixture materials composed by titanium alloy in vivo. A total of 18 rats underwent surgical titanium miniplates in their tibias, being randomly distributed into three groups: 30 days, 90 days, and 180 days after implantation. A total of six animals served as negative control (animals that not received any implant). After experimental design, the lung, liver, and kidney were removed for histopatological and genotoxic analysis as depicted by H.E. stain and single cell gel (comet) assay, respectively. No significant statistically differences (p > 0.05) for DNA damaging were found to all experimental groups when compared to negative control for all organs evaluated. In addition, no remarkable morphological alterations were detected under histopathological analysis. Taken together, such results suggest that titanium miniplates are neither able to induce DNA damage in multiple organs nor to cause some abnormalities in lung, liver, and kidney.