Debridement Efficacy of Serine Protease and Formulated Cream by In Vitro Assessment Against Artificial Wound Eschar

Abstract

Chronic wounds typically comprise of necrotic tissue and dried secretions, often culminating in the formation of a thick and tough layer of dead skin known as eschar. Removal of eschar is imperative to facilitate wound healing. Conventional approach for eschar removal involves surgical excision and grafting, which can be traumatic and frequently leads to viable tissue damage. There has been growing interest in the use of enzymatic agents for a gentler approach to debridement, utilizing proteolytic enzymes. In this study, a purified intracellular recombinant serine protease from Bacillus sp. (SPB) and its cream formulation were employed to evaluate their ability to degrade artificial wound eschar; composed of collagen, fibrin, and elastin. Degradation was assessed based on percentage weight reduction of eschar biomass, analysis via sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both SPB and its cream formulation were able to degrade up to 50% artificial wound eschar, with the SPB cream maintaining its degradation efficiency for up to 24hours. Additionally, the SPB-based cream demonstrated the ability to hydrolyze proteinaceous components of eschars individually (fibrin and collagen) as determined through qualitative assessment. These findings suggest that SPB holds promise for the debridement of wound eschar.