Artificial urine and FBS supplemented media in cytocompatibility assays for PLGA-PEG-based intravesical devices using the urothelium cell line UROtsa

European and German directives for approval of new medical devices require tests for cytotoxicity in relevant media, since urine can influence cytotoxicity of biodegradable devices. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term cytotoxicity of PLGA-b-mPEG (PLGA-PEG) polymer carriers and artificial urine (AU) to human UROtsa cells. Benign urothelial UROtsa cells were incubated in fetal bovine serum-containing RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with a range of concentrations of AU for 24 h and 7 days. Cell viability was determined by the XTT assay and by live/dead staining. The cytotoxicity of medium containing degradation products from PLGA-PEG carriers was also tested on the UROtsa cells in AU-containing and control medium. PLGA-PEG carriers exhibited no cytotoxicity to UROtsa cells after 24 h of incubation. However, after 7 days, cytotoxicity was observed, but this was largely attributable to the effects of 30% AU on the cells. Compared to phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and normalized to RPMI 1640 medium, significant cytotoxicity was observed by 24 h in medium containing 50% AU and by 7 days in medium containing 30% AU. Live/Dead staining confirmed proliferation results and no pH-changes could be observed. Here we demonstrate for the first time the impact of AU on standard cytotoxicity tests related to biomaterials for urinary-tract applications. Our study showed cytotoxic effects of high concentrations of 50% AU by 24 h and by physiological concentrations of AU (i.e., 30%) by 7 days. We have also demonstrated that PLGA-PEG has no cytotoxic effects in the appropriate AU-containing test environment. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2140-2147, 2018.