The Effects of Ozone Application on Genotoxic Damage and Wound Healing in Bisphosphonate-Applied Human Gingival Fibroblast Cells

Abstract

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is an extremely therapy-resistant disease involving the jaws especially following bisphosphonate treatment. Bisphosphonates accumulate in bone in concentrations sufficient to be directly toxic to the oral epithelium. Current therapeutic options are inadequate for the prevention and treatment of MRONJ. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of ozone gas plasma therapy on wound healing in bisphosphonate-applied human fibroblasts.

Human primary gingival fibroblasts were cultured. Cytotoxic concentrations (IC50) of bisphosphonates (pamidronate (PAM), alendronate (ALN), and zoledronate (ZOL)) were determined by MTT test. A 60 mu g/mu l for 30 s of ozone gas plasma application was performed to all experimental culture flasks after drug treatment at 24-h intervals as 3 s/cm(2). Genotoxic damages were evaluated by comet assay and wound healing was determined by in vitro scratch assay.

PAM, ALN, and ZOL applications caused genotoxic damage on primary human gingival fibroblast DNA. Ozone gas plasma therapy significantly decreased the genotoxic damage (p < 0.05), and this application provided 25, 29, and 27% less genotoxic damage in order of ALN, PAM, and ZOL groups. Ozone gas plasma therapy significantly increased wound healing rates both in postsurgical 24th and 48th hours for all doses of experimental drug groups (p < 0.05).

The ozone gas plasma application decreased genotoxic damage effect of bisphosphonate usage while improved the wound closure rate on human gingival fibroblasts.

Ozone gas plasma therapy may be helpful in prevention of gingival healing delay in MRONJ pathogenesis especially when applied simultaneously with surgical intervention.