Effects of lidocaine and the inclusion complex with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin on cell viability and proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma

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-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-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-β-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-β-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-β-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-β-CD-lido (4000 μm) was cytotoxic for both cell lines. Conclusions: HP-β-CD was able to potentiate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of lidocaine on human squamous cell carcinoma.