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Laboratory Research
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A comparison of the enzymatic activity of two trypsin, balsam of peru, and castor oil (TBC) wound treatments using an in vitro wound model Mark W. Trumbore, PhD All TBC wound care products contain the same three active ingredients, trypsin, balsam peru and castor oil at identical concentrations. These products improve healing in part by removing necrotic tissue from the wound. Although the active ingredients of all TBC products are the same, the formulations can be differentiated by physical properties such as viscosity. The trypsin activity of a given TBC formulation is dictated in part by the ability of the formulation to release active enzyme to the wound site. Differences in formulation viscosity can influence the release of trypsin affecting therapeutic efficacy. In order to assess the ability of two TBC formulations to release trypsin, an in vitro wound model was developed. The model replicates the wound environment by presenting a fully hydrated substrate matrix containing embedded protein. Cleavage of the embedded protein by trypsin diffusing out of the TBC formulation forms a zone of clearance allowing measurement of enzymatic activity as a function of time Two TBC formulations were examined, formulation 1 had a viscosity greater than 1,500,000 cP, while formulation 2 had a viscosity of approximately 350,000 cP. Comparison of the magnitudes of trypsin activity showed that formulation 2 demonstrated higher trypsin activity at all measured time points (P = 0.03 to 0.003). Linear regression of the activity versus time data showed that formulation 2 had 1.84 times greater trypsin activity than formulation 1 The results of this study indicate that the lower viscosity formulation 2 demonstrated greater trypsin activity in an in vitro wound model than formulation 1. These results are consistent with the thesis that formulation physical properties may influence therapeutic benefit. While increased trypsin activity has not been clinically shown to improve wound healing to date, the results of this study suggest that differences in trypsin activity might improve clinical outcome. |
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