BusinessAugust 23, 2026

cytotoxicity

SY-toh-tok-SIS-ih-tee

Definition

The quality of being toxic or damaging to cells, often tested to ensure that medical-grade materials used in skin-contact or implantable devices do not cause cellular harm to the patient.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'kytos' (a hollow vessel or cell) and the Greek 'toxikon' (poison). It entered scientific English to describe the specific property of substances that kill or harm living cells.

In the news

The article lists cytotoxicity testing as a core requirement for proving that silicone elastomers are biocompatible and safe for long-term human use. It is a critical, legally mandated step in the medical device validation process.

Latin America and the Caribbean Wearable Health Silicone Elastomers - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

Read the full article ↗

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