Effect of shock wave treatment on platelet-rich plasma added to osteoblast cultures

The aim of this study was to verify the effects on osteoblast cultures of adding a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) concentrate pretreated with 500 shock wave (SW) at an energy flow density of 0.17 mJ/mm(2), emitted by an electromagnetic generator Minilith SL1 (STORZ, Germany), reproducing the conditions of our previous study in which we apply SW directly on osteoblasts. Real-time PCR showed that in osteoblast cultures with added PRP pretreated with SW, there was an increased expression at 48 h of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and at 72 h, of collagen type I, osteocalcin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) as well as IGFBP-3. Western blotting confirmed the increased protein synthesis of IGFBP-3. This experience suggests that extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) should stimulate osteogenesis also by indirect platelets-mediated network. It therefore seems possible that combining the two methods, ESWT and bioengineering procedures to infiltrate PRP and growth factors, could be a successful approach.