Evaluation of the effects of different environmental conditions on the biostability and biological effects of lucilia seicata extract

The larvae of the Lucilia sericata fly are used as an effective method in the treatment of difficult to heal and chronic wounds. The compounds in the secretions of the larvae dissolve necrotic tissues, inhibit the growth of microorganisms and accelerate wound healing by promoting tissue granulation. However, since the use of live larvae may cause discomfort in some patients, the secretions of the larvae in isotonic solution can also be used in treatment. However, the difficulty in accessing fresh larval secretions increases the need for secretion materials that can be obtained and stored in advance. Literature reviews reveal that the consequences of some commonly used storage conditions on the biostability and biological effects of the secretion are not fully known. In this thesis, the effects of storage at +4°C and -20°C for 24 and 48 hours on the biostability and biological activities of secretions obtained from Lucilia sericata 1st stage larvae were evaluated. Wound healing activity measurements on 3T3 murine fibroblast cells using a scratch assay showed that secretions stored at -20°C for 48 hours were more effective than secretions stored at +4°C and room temperature. In addition, it was determined that the secretion stored at -20°C for 48 hours was more successful than the secretion stored for 24 hours. The results of our preliminary evaluation by FTIR method showed that our stability findings were consistent with the biological efficacy.