Quality control of a medicinal larval (Lucilia sericata) debridement device based on released gelatinase activity

Abstract Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae) larvae are manufactured worldwide for the treatment of chronic wounds. Published research has confirmed that the primary clinical effect of the product, debridement (the degradation of non‐viable wound tissue), is accomplished by a range of enzymes released by larvae during feeding. The quality assessment of larval activity is currently achieved during production using meat‐based assays, which monitor insect growth and/or the reduction in substrate mass. To support this, the present authors developed a complementary radial diffusion enzymatic assay to produce a visual and measureable indication of the activity of larval alimentary products (LAP) collected under standardized conditions, against a gelatin substrate. Using basic laboratory equipment and reagents, the assay is rapid and suited to high throughput. Assay reproducibility is high (standard deviation: 0.06–0.27; coefficient of variation: 0.75–4.31%) and the LAP collection procedure does not adversely affect larval survival (mortality: < 2%). Because it is both cost‐ and time‐effective, this method is suited to both academic and industrial use and supports good manufacturing and laboratory practice as a quality control assay.
Source: Medical and Veterinary Entomology - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research