Treatment of 3-wall intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis with autologous platelet-rich fibrin: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Lyophilized platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) promotes craniofacial bone regeneration through Runx2

Freeze-drying is an effective means to control scaffold pore size and preserve its composition. The purpose of the present study was to determine the applicability of lyophilized Platelet-rich fibrin (LPRF) as a scaffold for craniofacial tissue regeneration and to compare its biological effects with commonly used fresh Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). LPRF caused a 4.8-fold±0.4-fold elevation in Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) expression in alveolar bone cells, compared to a 3.6-fold±0.2-fold increase when using fresh PRF, and a more than 10-fold rise of alkaline phosphatase levels and mineralization markers. LPRF-induced Runx2 expression only occurred in alveolar bone and not in periodontal or dental follicle cells. LPRF also caused a 1.6-fold increase in osteoblast proliferation (p<0.001) when compared to fresh PRF. When applied in a rat craniofacial defect model for six weeks, LPRF resulted in 97% bony coverage of the defect, compared to 84% for fresh PRF, 64% for fibrin, and 16% without scaffold. Moreover, LPRF thickened the trabecular diameter by 25% when compared to fresh PRF and fibrin, and only LPRF and fresh PRF resulted in the formation of interconnected trabeculae across the defect. Together, these studies support the application of lyophilized PRF as a biomimetic scaffold for craniofacial bone regeneration and mineralized tissue engineering.

The use of platelet-rich fibrin in combination with biphasic calcium phosphate in the treatment of bone defects: a histologic and histomorphometric study

Background

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a leukocyte and platelet concentrate containing many growth factors. Its potential for hard tissue augmentation as a sole grafting material or in combination with other grafting materials has been investigated in many studies.

Objective

The aim of this histologic study was to evaluate the efficacy of PRF mixed with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) on bone regeneration in surgically created bone defects.

Methods

Defects 5 mm in diameter were created in both tibias of 6 sheep. The defects were left empty or grafted with BCP, PRF, or BCP+PRF. Animals were killed at 10, 20, and 40 days. The specimens underwent histologic and histomorphometric analysis.

Results

None of the groups displayed any signs of necrosis. Inflammation was observed in all groups at 10 days; 2 specimens of PRF+BCP and all empty defects showed inflammatory cell infiltration at 20 days. During the 40-day evaluation period, the PRF+BCP group showed the highest ratios of new bone. The other 3 groups showed statistically similar results. In the BCP and PRF+BCP groups, the residual graft ratios were decreased at consecutive time intervals. The difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant during follow-up.

Conclusions

The current study revealed a histomorphometric increase in bone formation with the addition of PRF to BCP in surgically created defects in sheep tibia.

Platelet-rich fibrin in the treatment of localized gingival recessions: a split-mouth randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in combination with coronally advanced flap (CAF) in the treatment of localized gingival recessions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-two patients with localized gingival recession defects (Miller I, II) participated in this split-mouth trial. Forty-four defects received either CAF + PRF (test) or CAF with subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) (control). Gingival recession depth (RD), gingival recession width (RW), keratinized tissue width (KTW), recession area (RA), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and gingival thickness (GT) were evaluated at baseline and 6 months. RD, RW, RA and KTW were calculated on standardized photographs with a computer image analysis program.

RESULTS

Percentage of root coverage in test group was 92.7 % and in control group was 94.2 % (p > 0.05). Percentage of complete root coverage of the test and control groups was 72.7 and 77.3 %, respectively (p > 0.05). KTW and GT were increased in both groups from baseline to 6 months (p < 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between treatment groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that localized gingival recessions could be successfully treated with CAF + PRF as well as CAF + SCTG. The digital measuring method provided high accuracy and precision in the evaluation of treatment outcomes after both surgical procedures.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

PRF might be suggested as an alternative to SCTG for the treatment of localized gingival recessions.

Role of Platelet rich fibrin in wound healing: A critical review

AIM

The aim is to review and discuss the strategies available for use of platelet rich fibrin as healing aid in dentistry.

BACKGROUND

Platelet rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix in which platelet cytokines, growth factors, and cells are trapped and may be released after a certain time and that can serve as a resorbable membrane. Choukroun and his associates were amongst the pioneers for using PRF protocol in oral and maxillofacial surgery to improve bone healing in implant dentistry. Autologous PRF is considered to be a healing biomaterial, and presently, studies have shown its application in various disciplines of dentistry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

By using specific keywords, electronic search of scientific papers was carried out on the entire PubMed database with custom range of 5 years. The electronic search yielded 302 papers; based on inclusion and exclusion criteria which were specifically predetermined, 72 papers were identified as suitable to the inclusion criteria and the remaining 230 papers were excluded. After adding three more selected papers through hand search, full text of all the articles retrieved and review was done. By pooling the extracted data from selected papers, the reviewed data was synthesized.

CONCLUSION

Recently by showing good promising results with use of the PRF, it has proved to have a good prospect for its use as healing aid in various aspects of the dentistry.

Platelet-rich fibrin promotes periodontal regeneration and enhances alveolar bone augmentation

In the present study we have determined the suitability of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) as a complex scaffold for periodontal tissue regeneration. Replacing PRF with its major component fibrin increased mineralization in alveolar bone progenitors when compared to periodontal progenitors, suggesting that fibrin played a substantial role in PRF-induced osteogenic lineage differentiation. Moreover, there was a 3.6-fold increase in the early osteoblast transcription factor RUNX2 and a 3.1-fold reduction of the mineralization inhibitor MGP as a result of PRF application in alveolar bone progenitors, a trend not observed in periodontal progenitors. Subcutaneous implantation studies revealed that PRF readily integrated with surrounding tissues and was partially replaced with collagen fibers 2 weeks after implantation. Finally, clinical pilot studies in human patients documented an approximately 5 mm elevation of alveolar bone height in tandem with oral mucosal wound healing. Together, these studies suggest that PRF enhances osteogenic lineage differentiation of alveolar bone progenitors more than of periodontal progenitors by augmenting osteoblast differentiation, RUNX2 expression, and mineralized nodule formation via its principal component fibrin. They also document that PRF functions as a complex regenerative scaffold promoting both tissue-specific alveolar bone augmentation and surrounding periodontal soft tissue regeneration via progenitor-specific mechanisms.

Platelet rich fibrin: a new paradigm in periodontal regeneration

Among the great challenges facing clinical research is the development of bioactive surgical additives regulating inflammation and increasing healing. Although the use of fibrin adhesives and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is well documented, they have their own limitations. Hence, reconstructive dental surgeons are looking for an "edge" that jump starts the healing process to maximize predictability as well as the volume of regenerated bone. Overcoming the restrictions related to the reimplantation of blood-derived products, a new family of platelet concentrate, which is neither a fibrin glue nor a classical platelet concentrate, was developed in France. This second generation platelet concentrate called platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), has been widely used to accelerate soft and hard tissue healing. Its advantages over the better known PRP include ease of preparation/application, minimal expense, and lack of biochemical modification (no bovine thrombin or anticoagulant is required). This article serves as an introduction to the PRF "concept" and its potential clinical applications with emphasis on periodontal regeneration.

Comparative evaluation of autologous platelet-rich fibrin and platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of 3-wall intrabony defects in chronic periodontitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The topical use of platelet concentrates is recent, and its efficiency remains controversial. The present study aims to explore the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of autologous platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of intrabony defects in patients with chronic periodontitis.

METHODS

Ninety intrabony defects were treated with either autologous PRF with open-flap debridement or autologous PRP with open-flap debridement or open-flap debridement alone. Clinical and radiologic parameters, such as probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), intrabony defect depth, and percentage defect fill, were recorded at baseline and 9 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Mean PD reduction and CAL gain were greater in PRF (3.77 ± 1.19 and 3.17 ± 1.29 mm) and PRP (3.77 ± 1.07 and 2.93 ± 1.08 mm) groups than the control group (2.97 ± 0.93 and 2.83 ± 0.91 mm). Furthermore, significantly greater percentage of mean bone fill was found in the PRF (55.41% ± 11.39%) and PRP (56.85% ± 14.01%) groups compared with the control (1.56% ± 15.12%) group.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the limit of the present study, there was similar PD reduction, CAL gain, and bone fill at sites treated with PRF or PRP with conventional open-flap debridement. Because PRF is less time consuming and less technique sensitive, it may seem a better treatment option than PRP. However, long-term, multicenter randomized, controlled clinical trials will be required to know their clinical and radiographic effects on bone regeneration.