Cyanoacrylate in nerve repair: transient cytotoxic effect

Abstract 

Cyanoacrylate adhesive has been suggested as an alternative to suturing when repairing severed peripheral nerves. The authors examined the cytotoxic effect of ethyl-cyanoacrylate on the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y and compared it with the effects of butyl-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl^®), an adhesive approved for skin closure. Ethyl-cyanoacrylate or butyl-cyanoacrylate was applied in confluent SH-SY5Y cultures. Immediately, at 24h and at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, cultures were photographed and analysed digitally. At corresponding intervals, cell death was quantified using a ⁵¹Cr release assay. In cultures exposed to ethyl-cyanoacrylate or butyl-cyanoacrylate, cell death was observed predominantly in conjunction with the adhesive, causing a halo devoid of cells. Surviving cells showed neurodegenerative properties with loss of neuritis and reduction of body size up to 3 days post exposure. The inhibition halo diminished over time in both groups and at 28 days cells reached the margin of the adhesive in the ethyl-cyanoacrylate group. ⁵¹Cr assay indicated significant cell death in exposed cultures, which rapidly decreased during the first 14 days. No significant differences were found between the adhesives. This study demonstrates that ethyl-cyanoacrylate and butyl-cyanoacrylate have a transient cytotoxic effect, which may explain the promising results when using cyanoacrylate for nerve repair.

Keywords: nerve repair, cyanoacrylate, synthetic adhesive, cytotoxic, neuroblastoma cell, SH-SY5Y