Assessment of biosafety and toxicity of hydrophilic gel for implantation in experimental in vitro and in vivo models

BACKGROUND: The assessment of biosafety of pharmacologically active substances is crucial for determining the feasibility of their medical use. There are controversial issues regarding the use of substances of different origins as implants. METHODS: We have conducted the comprehensive studies to determine the in vivo toxicity and in vitro genotoxicity of new generation of hydrophilic gel for implantation (production name of the substance “Activegel”) to detail its characteristics and assess its biosafety. RESULTS: In vivo studies have shown the absence of clinical manifestations of intoxication in animals and no abnormalities in their physiological condition, general and biochemical blood tests. Evaluation of the site of the gel application showed no inflammatory reaction and evidenced on normal state of tissues of animal skin. The results of the genotoxicity test indicated that the gel did not affect the parameters of DNA comets and the formation of micronuclei, accordingly, had no genotoxic effect on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. When studying the effect of the gel on malignantly transformed cells in vitro, it was found that the gel for implantation did not change the proliferative activity and viability of human breast cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo study using various experimental model systems showed that the hydrophilic gel for implantation “Activegel” is non-toxic. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40360-022-00577-3.