Search Results (11)

Background: Oral lichen planus is a chronic, potentially malignant disorder affecting the mucous membrane. As the etiology remains not fully understood, the treatment of this condition is mainly symptomatic, involving corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents, e.g., calcineurin inhibitors. One of the alternative therapeutic approaches includes platelet concentrates, which are autologous bioactive materials. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of platelet concentrates in the treatment of oral lichen planus and to compare them to other therapeutic strategies. Methods: The electronic databases PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for articles published up to 30 March 2025, describing clinical studies focused on oral lichen planus and treatment with platelet concentrates. Results: Fourteen studies describing the effects of oral lichen planus therapy with three types of platelet concentrates (injectable platelet-rich plasma, injectable platelet-rich fibrin, and platelet-rich plasma gel) were included in this review. Comparative strategies included steroids and immunosuppressive agents. The treatment duration ranged from 3 weeks to 2 months. The follow-up period varied from 4 weeks to 6 months. In most of the studies, comparable efficacy was achieved for platelet derivatives and alternative treatments. Two of the studies demonstrated more beneficial effects for platelet concentrates compared to controls, while in one of the studies, more severe adverse reactions were revealed in the platelet group compared to the controls. Conclusions: Autologous platelet concentrates showed comparable efficacy in achieving clinical improvement in patients with oral lichen planus to steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Platelet derivatives could be considered as an alternative treatment to topical immunosuppressives, especially in steroid-refractory cases. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich gel (PRG) on tympanic membrane closure rates, hearing improvement, and quality of life following tympanoplasty. Methods: Seventy-two patients with chronic tympanic membrane perforations were enrolled in a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial at a single tertiary referral center. All patients underwent tympanoplasty using a temporalis fascia graft and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group received standard tympanoplasty alone, while the other received intraoperative application of autologous PRP and PRG, in addition to the standard procedure. Results: The PRP group demonstrated a significantly higher rate of complete tympanic membrane closure compared to the control group (32/36; 88.9% vs. 24/36; 66.7%; p < 0.05). Bone conduction hearing remained unchanged in both groups, while air conduction hearing improved significantly from pre- to post-treatment in each group. However, the difference in air conduction improvement between the PRP group and the control group was not statistically significant (PRP group: Mdn = −8.25; control group: Mdn = −12.20; U = 618; z = −0.54; p = 0.30). Quality of life improved in both the PRP and control groups; however, the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (PRP group: 10.44 ± 10.46; control group: 10.47 ± 8.22; 95% CI [−4.45; 4.40]; t(66) = −0.01; p = 0.16). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that intraoperative application of autologous PRP and PRG may improve tympanoplasty outcomes, particularly in cases with lower expected success rates or when performing minimally invasive transcanal procedures under local anesthesia. However, variability in PRP preparation, application methods, and graft materials across studies limits direct comparisons. Standardized protocols and further controlled studies are necessary to clarify PRP’s clinical value in tympanoplasty. Full article

This observational study reports the process for the manufacture of RAPID^TM Biodynamic Haematogel and explores the properties of the platelet and leukocyte-rich plasma gels formed. Gels were manufactured from 60 mL of human blood using the protocol of Biotherapy Services. Platelet and leukocyte content, time-to-gel, gel weight and the temporal profile of liquid exudation from the gels were measured, along with the content of growth factors VEGF and PDGF in the releasate. The effect of the releasate on human keratinocyte (HaCat) cell proliferation was also determined. The platelet and leukocyte concentrations in donor blood were 1.60–8.10 × 10⁸ and 1.00 × 10⁶–2.00 × 10⁷ cells/mL, which were concentrated 2.67- and 1.12-fold, respectively, during processing. Structurally weak gels were formed which exuded a clear liquid releasate (77.4% w/w of gel weight over 60 min) that contained 278 pg/mL VEGF and 1319 pg/mL PDGF. The releasate produced concentration-dependent proliferation of HaCat cells: 5–15% releasate produced a 2.7–8.9-fold increase in growth over 48 h. In conclusion, we have described the point-of-care manufacturing protocol and characterised the gel properties of RAPID^TM Biodynamic Haematogel. This is an essential first step towards identifying, understanding and controlling critical processing parameters that impact on this medicinal product’s quality. Full article

Several musculoskeletal conditions are triggered by inflammatory processes that occur along with imbalances between anabolic and catabolic events. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous product derived from peripheral blood with inherent immunomodulatory and anabolic properties. The clinical efficacy of PRP has been evaluated in several musculoskeletal conditions, including osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, and osteonecrosis. When used in combination with hyaluronic acid (HA), a common treatment alternative, the regenerative properties of PRP are significantly enhanced and may provide additional benefits in terms of clinical outcomes. Recently, a new PRP-derived product has been reported in the literature and is being referred to as “plasma gel”. Plasma gels are obtained by polymerizing plasmatic proteins, which form solid thermal aggregates cross-linked with fibrin networks. Plasma gels are considered to be a rich source of growth factors and provide chemotactic, migratory, and proliferative properties. Additionally, clot formation and the associated fibrinolytic reactions play an additional role in tissue repair. There are only a few scientific articles focusing on plasma gels. Historically, they have been utilized in the fields of aesthetics and dentistry. Given that the combination of three products (PRP, HA, and plasma gel) could enhance tissue repair and wound healing, in this technical note, we propose a novel regenerative approach, named “PRP–HA cellular gel matrix” (PRP-GM), in which leukocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP) is mixed with a plasma gel (obtained by heating the plasma up) and HA in one syringe using a three-way stopcock. The final product contains a fibrin–albumin network entangled with HA’s polymers, in which the cells and biomolecules derived from PRP are attached and released gradually as fibrinolytic reactions and hyaluronic acid degradation occur. The presence of leukocytes, especially monocytes and macrophages, promotes tissue regeneration, as type 2 macrophages (M2) possess an anti-inflammatory feature. In addition, HA promotes the viscosuplementation of the joint and induces an anti-inflammatory response, resulting in pain relief. This unique combination of biological molecules may contribute to the optimization of regenerative protocols suitable for the treatment of degenerative musculoskeletal diseases. Full article

Platelet concentrates (PCs), including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), are autologous blood-derived biomaterials containing numerous growth factors. This study aimed to evaluate the initial healing effects of PRP gel and PRF on deep corneal wounds. Thirty-three eyes from New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups: group 1, lamellar keratectomy (LK); group 2, LK + commercial porcine small intestinal submucosal membrane (SIS); group 3, LK + SIS + PRP gel; and group 4, LK + SIS + PRF. Postoperative clinical and histological findings were observed for eight weeks. Group 1 showed no neovascularization during the observation period, and incompletely recovered with a thin cornea. Group 2 showed active healing through neovascularization, and a thick cornea was regenerated through the sufficient generation of myofibroblasts. Although group 3 showed a healing effect similar to that of group 2, angiogenesis and subsequent vessel regression were promoted, and corneal opacity improved more rapidly. In group 4, angiogenesis was promoted during initial healing; however, the incidence of complications, such as inflammation, was high, and myofibroblasts were hardly generated in the corneal stroma, which adversely affected remodeling. In conclusion, while PRP gel is a safe surgical material for promoting remodeling through vascular healing and myofibroblast production in deep corneal wounds, the use of PRF is not recommended. Full article

Regenerative medicine, based on the use of autologous tissues and embryonic, stem or differentiated cells, is gaining growing interest. However, their preparation, in a manner compliant with good practices and health regulations, is a technical challenge. The aim of this manuscript is to present the design of reliable CE marked medical devices for the preparation of standardized platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other autologous biologics intended for therapeutic uses. There are numerous PRP isolation processes. Depending on the methodology used, PRP composition varies greatly in terms of platelet concentration, platelet quality, and level of contamination with red and white blood cells. This variability in PRP composition might affect the clinical outcomes. The devices presented here are based on a specific technology, patented all over the world, that allows the precise separation of blood components as a function of their density using thixotropic separator gels in closed systems. This allows the preparation, in an automated manner, of leukocyte poor PRP with a standardized composition. Production of different forms of PRP is a clinical asset to suit various therapeutic needs. Therefore, we are offering solutions to prepare PRP either in liquid or gel form, and PRP combined with hyaluronic acid. These biologics have been successfully used in many different therapeutic domains, resulting in more than 150 published clinical studies. We also developed the CuteCell technology platform for cell culture expansion for further autologous cell therapies. This technology enables the safe and rapid in vitro expansion of cells intended for therapeutic use in good manufacturing practices (GMP) and autologous conditions, using blood-derived products as culture media supplementation. We summarize in this article our 20 years’ experience of research and development for the design of PRP devices and, more recently, for PRP combined with hyaluronic acid. Full article

The tensional and mechanical behavior of regenerative components, grafts, and blood clots represent an essential condition for the success of bone regeneration protocols. Autologous platelet growth factors represent a useful protocol to enhance the soft and hard tissue healing in several fields of medicine and craniofacial surgery. Different protocols for blood concentrates with and without activation have been proposed in literature. The aim of the present study was to investigate in vitro the mechanical properties of autologous platelet gel (APG) with autologous thrombin and calcium chloride. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 APG samples were evaluated; 10 samples were activated by autologous thrombin and calcium chloride (Group I) and 10 samples were non-activated (Group II). The tensile strength and modulus of elasticity were calculated through a static loading test (Lloyd 30 K, Lloyd Instruments Ltd., Segensworth, UK). Results: Group I (activated) reported a tensile strength of 373.5 ± 14.3 MPa, while Group II showed a significantly lower value of 360.5 ± 16.3 MPa (p < 0.05). The Young’s modulus was 145.3 ± 10.4 MPa for Group I and 140.3 ± 15.3 MPa for Group II (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The effectiveness of the present in vitro simulation showed that the APG activation protocol is able to increase the mechanical characteristics of the blood derivates and could be clinically useful to enhance regenerative procedures. Full article

Concentrated growth factors are extracted from platelet-rich plasma obtained from healthy adult veins by physical gradient centrifugation, and the activated platelets release various growth factors and cytokines, which can be further converted into concentrated growth factors liquid or gel preparations by different centrifuge tubes. These preparations are widely used in clinical treatments in various fields, such as dentistry, dermatology and surgery. In this article, concentrated growth factors gel and platelet-poor plasma gel obtained from six healthy adults were pressed into a concentrated growth factors membrane and platelet-poor plasma membrane. We examined whether the 3D fibrin mesh and the various concentrated growth factors within the concentrated growth factors membrane could be used as a bioscaffold for the human Wharton’s jelly umbilical cord stem cell line or the HaCaT cell line to attach, proliferate and form epidermal-like tissue. We also aimed to implant umbilical cord stem cells on the concentrated growth factors membrane or platelet-poor plasma membrane, and further compare the characteristics of similar tissues after 4 weeks in in vitro culture. The results showed that human Wharton’s jelly umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, implanted on the upper surface of the concentrated growth factors membrane, showed subsequent cell attachment and proliferation. After 4 weeks of ex vivo tissue culture, a multi-layer epidermal-like tissue formed on the upper surface of the membrane containing concentrated growth factors. This tissue had a minimum thickness of 89.91 µm to a maximum of 204.19 µm, mean ± SD = 144.36 µm ± 43.14 µm. Sections of these multi-layer epidermal-like tissues were used for immunohistochemical staining. We found that 79.8% ± 7.2% of the cells expressed the pancytokeratin marker, 29.5% ± 9.4% of the cells expressed the P63 marker, and 71.7% ± 3.9% of the cells expressed the vimentin marker. After the same 4 weeks in the in vitro culture, the HaCaT cells could attach to the concentrated growth factors membrane and proliferate to form a multi-layer tissue, The tissue had a minimum thickness of 63.17 µm to a maximum of 100.26 µm, mean ± SD = 74.05 µm ± 13.44 µm. We found that 88.1% ± 4.9% of the cells expressed the pancytokeratin marker, 63.6% ± 11.4% of the cells expressed the P63 marker, and 79% ± 9.9% of the cells expressed the vimentin marker. Also, after 4 weeks in the in vitro culture, it showed that umbilical cord stem cells could attach to the platelet-poor plasma membrane, proliferate and distribute in the whole-tissue sections. We found that 9.7% ± 2.4% of the cells expressed the pancytokeratin marker, 7.45% ± 1.9% of the cells expressed the P63 maker, and 95.9% ± 3.7% of the cells expressed the vimentin marker. In terms of the percentage of umbilical cord stem cells expressing pancytokeratin, P63, or vimentin cell markers, there was a significant difference between cultivating in the concentrated growth factors membrane scaffold and the platelet-poor plasma membrane scaffolds. In terms of the percentage of umbilical cord stem cells or HaCaT cells (cultivating in the concentrated growth factors membrane) expressing pancytokeratin, P63, or vimentin cell markers, there was no significant difference. These results suggested that umbilical cord Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells can use the concentrated growth factors membrane (composed of 3D fibrin mesh, and various growth factors and cytokines) as an effective and self-contained bioscaffold to differentiate towards keratinocytes-like cells. In the future, donors’ own concentrated growth factors membrane can be applied as an auxiliary tool for autologous tissue regeneration. Full article

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence and efficacy of autologous platelets on bone regeneration in a rabbit defects model. Materials and Methods: A total of 12 critical size tibial defects were produced in six New Zealand rabbits: A total of six defects were filled with autologous platelet gel (APG) and six defects were maintained as untreated controls. No membranes were used to cover the bone osteotomies. The histology and histomorphometry were performed at four weeks on retrieved samples of both groups. Results: No complications were reported in any of the animals nor for the defects produced. A significantly higher lamellar and woven bone percentage was reported for the APG group with a lower level of marrow spaces (p < 0.05). Evidence of newly formed bone was found in the superficial portion of the bone defect of APG samples where no aspects of bone resorption were observed. Conclusions: The evidence of the present research revealed that APG increases new bone formation restricted to the cortical portion and induces more rapid healing in rabbit bone defects than in untreated defects. Full article

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a nontransfusional hemocomponent, considered as a powerful concentrate of growth factors (GFs) therapeutically used to stimulate tissue regeneration. The use of autologous PRP, as the patient’s own biological material, for therapeutic purposes represents a safe and effective alternative to conventional treatments in both human and veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was the characterization of canine PRP from rheological and biological points of view. Thus, a characterization of the viscoelastic properties of the PRP systems was performed in order to clarify the influence of different calcium concentrations, in the presence of autologous thrombin-rich solution, on the PRP gels’ mechanical properties, from which the applicability of these systems in biomedical treatments is strongly dependent. Then, an evaluation of the content of GFs in PRP, activated or not with thrombin, and stored at different temperatures (37 °C and −20 °C) was performed over time, outlining, for the first time, the importance of the effect of physiological temperature (37 °C) on the production of GFs. A clinical case study conducted in a dog with a complete rupture of the common calcaneal tendon (Achilles tendon) confirmed the relevance of this hemocomponent in the daily veterinary clinical activity and the potential translational value for human health. Full article

The field of regeneration interventions in oral and maxillofacial surgeries still represents a challenge for researchers and clinicians. Understanding the biological and morphological behaviour of human cells towards the materials used for the regeneration surgeries is key to successfully choosing and applying the appropriate biomaterials for specific clinical situations. The aim of the study was the biological and morphological evaluation of autologous platelet concentrate materials obtained with different protocols, in culture with human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLF). The study design included the evaluation of Leukocyte-Platelet-Rich-Fibrin (L-PRF), Concentrated Growth Factors (CGF) and autologous platelet gel (APG) in contact with the HPLF cell line after 24 h, 72 h and 7 days of in vitro culture. Cell proliferation and, therefore, viability were evaluated with XTT assays. The morphological response of the cells was evaluated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. The XTT assay showed an interesting response in the growth curve. In particular, the material that gave the best results was the CGF. The morphological data supported the XTT assay, showing the best results for the CGF and L-PRF. In conclusion, all the platelet-derived materials stimulated the onset of the growth of the HPLF cell line, making them promising options for periodontal regeneration interventions. Full article