Analysis of the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of starting materials and a new furan-based polymer

Abstract

Plastic production has surpassed most other man-made materials. It is estimated that since the middle of the last century, 8.9 billion tons of primary and secondary plastics have been manufactured. Most of these plastics are based on ethylene and propylene, that is, derived from fossil hydrocarbons, which results in an accumulation in landfills or in the natural environment because they are not biodegradable, causing major problems for the environment and for humanity due to its improper disposal. Therefore, as an ecologically viable alternative to minimize this impact, furan-based polymers are gaining increasing attention in the middle of research, since they can be obtained through renewable sources. Therefore, in order to verify the harmlessness of the genetic material and the safety for human health and the environment, the general objective of this study will be to evaluate the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of the starting materials alone and of a new polymer produced from furan. Initially, furfuryl alcohol, maleic anhydride, and furan maleic anhydride adduct will be evaluated. Cytotoxicity will be evaluated against keratinocytes (HaCat cells) and mutagenicity by the Ames test, using Salmonella Typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA97a, and TA102, which detects DNA base substitutions or frameshift mutations, in experiments with and without metabolic activation. The realization of this study seeks to ensure the use and warn about the possible risks that these samples can generate in the professionals who will handle them and in the damages of their disposal in the environment.(AU)