Evaluation of Cytotoxicity of Nickel-Titanium Electrode for Hepatic Ablation Equipment with Carcinosarcoma Walker 256 Tumor Model

Abstract

The worldwide epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (CHC) positions it as the fifth most common malignancy globally and the third cause of cancer-related death and high morbidity and mortality in Brazil sufficient to seriously burden the Unified Health System (SUS). The use of radiofrequency ablation is already consolidated as the best therapeutic option in the stages 0 and A of BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer), in unresectable cases and to reduce the staging or increase of survival to wait for transplantation. Due to its high cost, the Ministry of Health and the LaB-Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of the University of Brasilia have innovated with the production of a low cost national radiofrequency ablation equipment called SOFIA (Software of intensive ablation). This study proposes the validation of the SOFIA equipment in its preclinical phase investigating the biological effects produced by the use of the umbrella electrode of NiTi, device coupled to the equipment. A tumor model, carcinosarcoma (Walker 256 tumor) was used for analysis of in vitro cytotoxicity by colorimetric cell viability spectrophotometry with the NiTi (Níquel-titânio) MARINA 5H electrode. The nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy of the MARINA 5H electrode was considered to be non-cytotoxic and no harmful residues were formed at the cellular levels, biocompatible for use in clinical phase I tests.