Platelet-Rich Fibrin Progressive Protocol: Third Generation of Blood Concentrates

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Oral Surgery

Background:

• Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is utilized in dentistry to enhance tissue regeneration.
• Conventional PRF production from glass tubes yields small membranes, complicating clinical application and increasing procedural time.
• There is a need for improved PRF production methods to create larger, clinically manageable membranes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cell and platelet content and biomechanical strength of giant PRF membranes produced using plastic tubes without additives.
• To compare the efficacy of three different centrifugation protocols for PRF production.

Main Methods:

• An ex vivo study compared three PRF centrifugation protocols: L-PRF (700 x g/12 min), GM350 (350 x g/14 min), and PRO-PRF (60-700 x g/>15 min).
• Blood samples from 5 volunteers were processed using each protocol.
• Membranes were assessed for tensile strength and histomorphometry, with leukocyte and platelet counts performed on whole blood.

Main Results:

• The PRO-PRF protocol demonstrated significantly higher maximum breaking strength (0.85 ± 0.23 N) compared to L-PRF (0.61 ± 0.26 N) and GM350 (0.58 ± 0.23 N).
• Histomorphometry showed no significant differences in cell counts among the groups.
• Leukocyte and platelet counts in whole blood did not differ significantly between the protocols.

Conclusions:

• The progressive centrifugation protocol (PRO-PRF) effectively produces giant PRF membranes with enhanced tensile strength and suitable cell distribution.
• This method allows for biomaterial incorporation and provides clinical control over membrane size and thickness for surgical applications.