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Preparation and Pathogen Inactivation of Double Dose Buffy Coat Platelet Products using the INTERCEPT Blood System
Published on: December 7, 2012
Expired liquid preserved platelet releasates retain proliferative activity
Rodney K Chan1, Perry Liu, Dae-Hyun Lew
1Department of Surgery, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
The Journal of Surgical Research
|May 27, 2005
Summary
Expired platelets, though no longer effective for hemostasis, retain growth factors for at least 3 weeks. These factors can be utilized for wound healing applications, offering a new therapeutic avenue.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Wound Healing Research
Background:
- Platelets have a short 5-day shelf life for clinical hemostasis due to contamination risks.
- Platelet releasates contain growth factors crucial for wound healing.
- Expired platelets may retain therapeutic potential beyond hemostasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sustained role of aged platelets as a reservoir for growth factors.
- To determine the viability of using expired platelets for wound healing applications.
Main Methods:
- Human platelets were activated at intervals up to 21 days post-collection.
- Fibroblast proliferation was measured as a surrogate for growth factor activity.
- Quantification of total protein, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and transforming growth factor-beta was performed.
Main Results:
- Activated platelet releasates from aged platelets (21 days) stimulated fibroblast proliferation comparably to fresh platelets (2 days).
- Protein content and concentrations of PDGF and transforming growth factor-beta remained stable throughout the 21-day period.
- Western blot analysis indicated minimal protein degradation over time.
Conclusions:
- Platelets' hemostatic function declines rapidly, but their growth factor reservoir capacity persists for at least 3 weeks.
- Collected growth factors from aged platelets can be developed into topical agents.
- This approach holds promise for treating chronic and difficult-to-heal wounds.
