P 125
MODULATION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE (MMP) ACTIVITY BY SILVER-
CONTAINING DRESSINGS
Christine Cochrane2, Mike Walker1, Phil Bowler1
1ConvaTec, Wound Therapeutics™, Deeside, Flintshire, United Kingdom,
2Liverpool University, Neston, Wirral, United Kingdom
Aim: Three wound dressing types (e.g. Hydrofiber®, Alginate and oxidized regenerated
cellulose) were investigated for their ability to modulate MMP activity in vitro . Each
dressing type included both a silver-containing dressing and a non-silver-containing
dressing .
Methods: Samples of cell extracts from lysed monocytes (MMP-9) and lysed fibroblasts
(MMP-2) were dialysed in buffer overnight at 4oC, before passing down a gelatin-
sepharose column . Individual enzymes were eluted from the column and collected in
aliquots of 2ml in bijou bottles. These aliquots were stored at -70o C until required for
use. Dressing samples (0.1g) were incubated with 1ml PBS and either purified MMP-2 or
MMP-9 (500μl). These samples (n=6), were incubated for 0, 1, 3, 6, 24,and 48 hours at
37oC.
Results: All the dressings contributed to a reduction in both MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity,
and in general the silver-containing dressings performed more effectively, indicating that
silver provides an additional ability to modulate MMP activity .
Discussion: The results differentiated both the silver and non-silver containing dressings
highlighting the fact that the overall dressing properties (i .e . both physical and chemical)
can contribute to a dressings ability to reduce important and potentially ‘corrosive’
proteolytic enzyme (e .g . MMP) activity in the localized wound environment .
Hydrofiber® is a registered trademark of E .R Squibb and Sons L .L .C .