Titanium platelet-rich fibrin (T-PRF) as high-capacity doxycycline delivery system

Titanium platelet-rich fibrin (T-PRF), a second-generation autogenous blood concentrate with tough and thick fibrin meshwork activated by a titanium tube, was used as a drug carrier for doxycycline (Doxy) by injection. The objective of this study is to evaluate the loading capacity of T-PRF, release kinetics of doxycycline-loaded T-PRF, and its antibacterial effects against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.

The T-PRF and collagen were loaded with Doxy as T-PRF/Doxy and Collagen/Doxy, and their release and antibacterial activities against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were investigated. Chemical characterization and morphological analysis were performed.

In comparison with collagen, approximately sevenfold more Doxy, 281 mg/g, was loaded into T-PRF. It was found that 25% of the loaded Doxy was released from T-PRF compared to only 12% from collagen within 72 h. The largest inhibition zone diameter (IZD) was observed for T-PRF/Dox with 32 ± 6 mm and 37 ± 5 mm for P. aereginosa and S. aureus, respectively. However, only 10 ± 5 mm and 10 ± 6 mm IZD were observed for bare T-PRF, and no inhibition zone was observed for the Collagen/Doxy group. A dense fibrin structure was visualized on SEM images of the T-PRF/Doxy group compared to the T-PRF group.

T-PRF has higher Doxy loading capacity and long-acting antibacterial effects compared to collagen. T-PRF was shown to have potential autogenous long-term drug-carrying capability for doxycycline. Also, the potential fibrinophilic properties of Doxy were observed to strengthen the structure of T-PRF.

T-PRF is an autogenous drug career with high loading capacity and extended antibacterial effects for doxycycline. Doxycycline molecules can be visible on T-PRF fibers. This study suggests that T-PRF/Dox could be used as a proper antibiotic delivery device in the treatments of periodontitis and peri-implantitis.