Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of DMABEE, a co-photoinitiator of resin polymerization, on CHO-K1 cells: Role of redox and carboxylesterase.

The 4-dimethylaminobenzoic acid ethyl ester (DMABEE) is an important co-initiator for resin polymerization in dental resinous materials. As a radical forming chemical with high lipophilicity, the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of DMABEE deserve prudent investigation. In this study, we found that DMABEE reduced the viability and proliferation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells in a dose-dependent manner, and altered cell morphology at higher concentrations.