Platelet Products and Artificial Platelets for Regenerative Medicine

Platelet products derived from whole blood include platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), platelet lysate (PL), and platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs). Such products have been utilized for hemostatic purposes and regenerative medicine. Poor shelf life, high cost of storage, immune risk, and constant need for adequate donors have led to the desire for biomaterials that mimic platelet function. Artificial platelets, such as platelet-membrane coated nanoparticles (NPs), platelet-like particles, SynthoPlate, and GRGDS-PEG-coated polyurethane NPs, have been designed to mimic platelet functionality and aid in hemostasis.

Platelet product and artificial platelet function can be further leveraged for regenerative medicine and wound healing as they interact with activated platelets and fibrin at the region of interest, highlighting their therapeutic potential. Example regenerative applications of both platelet products and artificial platelets include osteogenesis, angiogenesis, soft tissue and dermal healing, and drug or cell delivery.

Some platelet products have reached clinical trials, but most of the biomaterial based approaches are still in preclinical testing. Research into their regenerative and wound healing capabilities is novel for the field, but the products show tremendous promise in biomedical applications beyond hemostasis.