Dose-dependent doxycycline local drug delivery using T-PRF: preliminary in vitro study

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Autologous platelet-rich fibrin (T-PRF) is utilized in medicine and dentistry.
• Its application as a local drug delivery system is gaining attention.
• Investigating T-PRF's potential for controlled antimicrobial release is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the characteristics and performance of T-PRF membranes loaded with varying doses of doxycycline.
• To assess the impact of doxycycline loading on T-PRF membrane stability, degradation, and drug release.
• To determine the antibacterial efficacy of doxycycline-loaded T-PRF against specific bacterial strains.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of T-PRF membranes from healthy donors.
• Loading T-PRF membranes with three different doxycycline doses (0.5 mL, 1 mL, 2 mL).
• In vitro assessment of fibrin network, antibacterial activity (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), drug release kinetics, and degradation rates.

Main Results:

• Doxycycline-loaded T-PRF membranes showed reduced degradation rates, with higher doses enhancing stability.
• Increased fibrin network density was observed in drug-loaded membranes, suggesting improved drug retention.
• Antibacterial activity was confirmed against S. aureus, with the highest dose yielding the largest inhibition zone.
• No significant activity was observed against P. aeruginosa.

Conclusions:

• Autologous T-PRF serves as a promising platform for local antimicrobial delivery.
• Doxycycline-loaded T-PRF membranes demonstrate enhanced stability and selective antibacterial properties.
• Further in vivo studies are warranted to validate these preliminary in vitro findings and explore controlled release mechanisms.