Investigation of the effect of hexagonal boron nitride application on cell viability in human gingival fibroblast cells under oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the protective and therapeutic effects of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) application before and after hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) cells. In our study, the HGF primary cell line was used. Before and after oxidative stress was created by inducing cells with 800 μM H2O2, hBN was applied at 3 different concentrations (0.001, 0.005, and 0.01 mg/mL) and its effect on the viability of HGF cells was examined by XTT test. In addition, total oxidant status (TOS) was measured before and after oxidative damage in HGF cells for hBN at 0.01 mg/mL concentration. Considering the data we obtained from the study; it was determined that when hBN was applied to HGF cells before and after oxidative damage, it reduced cell damage (2%-5.5% and 3%-6.5%, respectively). No significant difference was found in TOS measurements. No cell viability-reducing effect was observed in HGF cells at any concentration applied only to hBN. In conclusion, it was observed that hBN application had protective and therapeutic effects on oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in HGF cells. The results obtained are promising regarding the use of hBN in the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-induced inflammations and tissue damage such as periodontitis, and further studies are needed.