Unveiling Biocompatibility: Comprehensive Study on Epoxy–Polyetheramine-Based Polymeric Nanogels in CHO-K1 Cell Line

Backgorund/Objectives: Advances in nanotechnology have enabled conventional compounds with low bioavailability to achieve their full therapeutic potential by ensuring targeted tissue delivery. In this context, polymeric nanogels have emerged as a promising option for drug delivery due to their high loading capacity and excellent in vivo stability. Objectives: Given the growing potential of nanogels in drug delivery, their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity must be evaluated to ensure safety in biotechnological applications. This study assessed the genotoxic safety of nanogels synthesized via the reaction of Jeffamine® T-5000 polyoxypropylene triamine (PPO) monomers (Huntsman Chemical, The Woodlands, TX, USA) and poly (ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (DPEG) in varying proportions: 1:1 (Nano11), 1:3 (Nano13), and 2:3 (Nano23) PPO/DPEG. Additionally, we determined which of the two components exhibited lower toxicity against the CHO-K1 cell line (Chinese hamster ovary). Methods: To achieve this, short- and long-term cytotoxicity experiments were conducted using the XTT colorimetric assay and clonogenic survival assay, alongside the micronucleus test and comet assay for genotoxicity analysis. Results: The cytotoxicity assays (XTT, clonogenic, and trypan blue) indicated that the nanogels did not exhibit cytotoxic effects at concentrations up to 100 μg/mL, while the genotoxicity assays revealed no evidence of DNA or chromosomal damage at these levels. Conclusions: These findings underscore the safety profile of Jeffamine® T-5000 as an effective carrier, demonstrating its compatibility with DPEG and positioning it as a highly promising and innovative solution for advanced drug delivery systems.