Preclinical assessment of Tobacco-Free Nicotine Pouches Demonstrates Reduced In Vitro Toxicity Compared with Tobacco Snus and Combustible Cigarette Smoke

Introduction:
This article presents a study that compares the in vitro biological activity of two commercially available tobacco-free nicotine pouches (TFNPs), one snus product, and combustible cigarette smoke in three in vitro toxicological assays. The study also proposes an extraction method for TFNPs and snus in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) based on the International Organization of Standardization 10993-12 standard to assess the in vitro biological activity.

Key Points:

* The study compares the in vitro biological activity of two TFNPs, one snus product, and combustible cigarette smoke in three in vitro toxicological assays.
* an extraction method for TFNPs and snus in PBS based on the International Organization of Standardization 10993-12 standard is presented.
* The TFNPs and snus extracts were negative in both the ames and in vitro micronucleus (IVM) assays, while combustible cigarette smoke total particle matter (TPM) induced a statistically significant positive response in all three in vitro assays.
* When using the hepG2 cell line in the NRU assay, it was possible to differentiate between TFNP and snus extracts, with only snus extracts resulting in a measurable EC50 response.
* The study demonstrates that the tested TFNPs have a substantially reduced in vitro toxicity activity compared with traditional tobacco products.
* Further scientific exploration and public health discussion on these products are warranted.

Main Message:
The study provides an initial preclinical in vitro toxicity assessment of TFNPs compared with both tobacco snus and combustible cigarette smoke, indicating that the tested TFNPs have a substantially reduced in vitro toxicity activity compared with traditional tobacco products. The study suggests that TFNPs could be a promising alternative to traditional tobacco products, and further scientific exploration and public health discussion are warranted.

Yu, F., Rudd, K., Pour, S., Sticken, E., Dethloff, O., Wieczorek, R., Nahde, T., Simms, L., Chapman, F., Czekala, L., Stevenson, M., & O’Connell, G. (2022). Preclinical assessment of Tobacco-Free Nicotine Pouches Demonstrates Reduced In Vitro Toxicity Compared with Tobacco Snus and Combustible Cigarette Smoke. applied In Vitro Toxicology, 8. https://doi.org/10.1089/aivt.2021.0020