Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma Repairs Burn Wound and Reduces Burn Pain in Rats

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Wound Healing
• Pain Management

Background:

• Burn injuries present significant challenges in wound healing and pain management.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood concentrate rich in growth factors, showing potential in tissue regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in promoting burn wound healing and alleviating burn-induced pain in a rat model.

Main Methods:

• Surgical induction of burn wounds in rats, followed by treatment with autologous PRP.
• Assessment of wound area and healing rates over 14 days.
• Measurement of pain thresholds (mechanical and thermal) and analysis of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β) and growth factors (VEGF, MMP-9, TGF-β1) via immunohistochemistry, ELISA, RT-qPCR, and Western blot.

Main Results:

• PRP treatment significantly reduced burn wound area and accelerated healing rates compared to the control group.
• PRP administration led to increased mechanical and thermal pain thresholds, indicating pain relief.
• PRP treatment increased CD31 expression and upregulated VEGF, MMP-9, and TGF-β1, while decreasing TNF-α and IL-1β levels in wound tissues.

Conclusions:

• Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is effective in accelerating burn wound healing and reducing associated pain in rats.
• PRP promotes angiogenesis and modulates inflammatory responses, contributing to improved wound healing outcomes.