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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Production of Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma for Boosting In Vitro Human Fibroblast Expansion
Published on: February 24, 2021
Platelet-rich plasma has no effect on increasing free fat graft survival in the nude mouse
Yong-Chen Por1, Vincent Kok-Leng Yeow, Nayef Louri
1Department of Plastic Surgery, Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. poryongchen@yahoo.com.sg
Background:
Free fat grafts have an unpredictable survival rate, which may be dependent on host bed vascularity. Therefore, the authors hypothesized that the presence of growth factors in platelet-rich plasma (PRP), may enhance free fat graft survival.
Methods:
Free fat grafts and autologous PRP were harvested from a healthy female and processed using the Coleman technique and the Medtronic Magellan system respectively. The experiment comprised two groups of 12 nude mice each with injection of free fat grafts into the scalp. The experimental group comprised the combination of 0.8 ml of free fat graft and 0.2 ml of PRP. The control group comprised the combination of 0.8 ml of free fat graft and 0.2 ml of normal saline. The mice were euthanized after 16 weeks and the fat grafts explanted and measured for weight and volume. Histology was performed with Oil Red O stain. Statistical analysis of the weight and volume in between groups was performed using the independent samples T-test (SPSS v11). The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the ranking of six histological parameters between the two groups.
Results:
The mean weight and volume for the experimental arm were 0.503 g and 0.545 ml respectively. The mean weight and volume for the control arm were 0.500 g and 0.541 ml respectively. The weight, volume and histological parameters between the two groups were not statistically significant. A mouse from each group died of unknown causes.
Conclusion:
PRP did not enhance free fat graft survival in the nude mouse.
