Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of aspartame (ASP) on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines' morphology, migratory potential, and cell viability.

Methods: MTT (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) Cell Proliferation Assay was used to assess cell viability, while a microscopic evaluation of the cells' morphology was done under bright field illumination and photographed at 48 hours post-treatment with ASP. Lastly, in vitro wound healing “Scratch assay" was conducted to evaluate cell migration changes after ASP treatment.
Results: Our results revealed significant differences in cell viability at high concentrations (10 and 100 μg/mL) when compared to unstimulated cells. While low concentrations (0.01 μg/mL) showed no significant difference. Regarding morphological changes in OSCC cells our results recorded that the lowest concentration of ASP (0.01μg/mL) did not cause any alteration, while the cells stimulated with 0.1, 1.0, 10, and 100μg/mL, significant changes were noticed. As for cell migration capacity, ASP IC50 caused a notable decrease in OSCC cell line invasion and cell migration.
Conclusion: According to our findings, High concentrations of ASP caused decreased cell viability, several morphological changes as well as decline in migration capacity in OSCC cell lines.