Natural latex serum: characterization and biocompatibility assessment using Galleria mellonella as an alternative in vivo model

Abstract

Natural latex serum (NLS) is one of the natural rubber latex fractions from Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is formed by centrifuged serum and is composed of proteins, acids, nucleotides, salts and carbohydrates. The proteins present in NLS have demonstrated several interesting biological properties, including angiogenic, healing, osteogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, in addition to inducing neovascularization, bone formation and osseointegration. Thus, we proposed to characterize NLS by physicochemical techniques and to investigate the biocompatibility by toxicological assays and safety test in Galleria mellonella. Infrared spectrum showed vibrational bands characteristic of amide I, II and III that are linked to the protein content, which was confirmed by the High Performance Liquid Chromatography profile and by the Electrophoresis analysis. This material did not exhibit hemolytic (rate <0.5%) and cytotoxic effects (viability >70%) and was able to enhance the proliferation of fibroblasts (>600%) after 3 days. The pronounced proliferative effect observed in fibroblast cells can be explained by the presence of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) like protein revealed by the Western blot test. Moreover, NLS did not provoke toxic effects (survival ∼ 80%) on the G. mellonella model, indicating that it is a biocompatible and safe material.

Keywords:

• Natural latex serum
• Hevea brasiliensis
• Western blot
• HPLC
• toxicity
• Galleria mellonella

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and Advanced Microscopy Laboratory (LMA), located at UNESP Chemistry Institute in Araraquara, Brazil.

Disclosure statement

We declare that there is no conflict of interest in the submission of our manuscript. No support, financial or otherwise has been received from any organization that may have an interest in the submitted work. There are also no personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this research are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (PIBIC-CNPq) and São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (grant number 2017/19630-8, 2014/17526-8 and 2011/17411-8).