Effectiveness of platelet-rich fibrin matrix treated with silver nanoparticles in fracture healing in rabbit model

Effect of calcium carbonate nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles and advanced platelet-rich fibrin for enhancing bone healing in a rabbit model

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CCNPs) to induce new bone formation in a critical size segmental bone defect in rabbit's radius when used alone, combined with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a paste, or as a composite containing CCNPs, AgNPs, and advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF). Thirty-six adult apparently healthy male New Zealand White rabbits aging from 5 to 6 months and weighting 3.5 ± 0.5 kg were used. The animals were divided into four groups; control group, CCNPs group, CCNPs/AgNPs paste group, and CCNPs/AgNPs/A-PRF composite group. The animals were investigated at 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-implantation in which the healing was evaluated using computed tomographic (CT) and histopathological evaluation. The results revealed that CCNPs/AgNPs paste and CCNPs/AgNPs/A-PRF composite has a superior effect regarding the amount and the quality of the newly formed bone compared to the control and the CCNPs alone. In conclusion, addition of AgNPs and/or A-PRF to CCNPs has reduced its resorption rate and improved its osteogenic and osteoinductive properties.

Standardization of Animal Models and Techniques for Platelet-Rich Fibrin Production: A Narrative Review and Guideline

Experimental research is critical for advancing medical knowledge and enhancing patient outcomes, including in vitro and in vivo preclinical assessments. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a blood by-product that has garnered attention in the medical and dental fields due to its potential for tissue regeneration and wound healing. Animal models, such as rabbits and rats, have been used to produce PRF and examine its properties and applications. PRF has demonstrated potential in the dental and medical fields for reducing inflammation, promoting tissue repair, and accelerating wound healing. This narrative review aims to compare existing evidence and provide guidelines for PRF animal research, emphasizing the importance of standardizing animal models, following ethical considerations, and maintaining transparency and accountability. The authors highlight the necessity to use the correct relative centrifugal force (RCF), standardize centrifugal calibration, and report detailed information about blood collection and centrifuge parameters for reproducible results. Standardizing animal models and techniques is crucial for narrowing the gap between laboratory research and clinical applications, ultimately enhancing the translation of findings from bench to bedside.

Flunixin Meglumine Enhanced Bone Fracture Healing in Rabbits Associated with Activation of Early Collagen Deposition and Enhancement of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used postoperative analgesics, antipyretics, and anti-inflammatories, and they help prevent blood clotting. However, most NSAIDs delay bone healing. This study was aimed to investigate bone healing in a rabbit animal model by assessing the ability of flunixin meglumine (FM) and ketoprofen to induce fracture healing by examining histology, radiological changes, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunostaining during bone healing. For this purpose, 24 New Zealand rabbits were assigned to three groups: the control group, the FM group, and the ketoprofen group. Our results revealed that there were no intraoperative complications, and all surviving rabbits achieved full-weight bearing. Significant periosteal reaction and callus formation were confirmed at 2 postoperative weeks. Interestingly, FM enhanced callus formation, bone union, and remodeling in the FM group compared to the control and ketoprofen groups. FM enhanced bone healing through early collagen deposition and marked angiogenesis process activation by increasing the expression of VEGF. Our findings demonstrated, for the first time, the potential imperative action of FM in the bone healing process rather than other NSAIDs in animals.

Advanced platelet-rich fibrin plus gold nanoparticles enhanced the osteogenic capacity of human mesenchymal stem cells

Objectives

There is still insufficient clinical evidence of platelet-rich fibrin beneficial effects on bone regeneration. Gold nanoparticles have been shown to enhance osteogenic differentiation and bone mineralization. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of advanced-platelet-rich fibrin modified by gold nanoparticles on the osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Results

MTT assay revealed 0.0125 mM gold nanoparticles had no cytotoxic effects on stem cells after 7 days. The addition of 0.0125 mM gold nanoparticle to advanced-platelet-rich fibrin clot increased cell viability compared to the non-treated control group (p < 0.05). 7-day incubation of stem cells with advanced-platelet-rich fibrin modified by gold nanoparticles conditioned media was shown to promote alkaline phosphatase activity compared to the control cells and group treated with advanced-platelet-rich fibrin condition media (p < 0.05). By using Alizarin Red S staining, red-colored calcium deposits were observed in the group treated with advanced-platelet-rich fibrin and gold nanoparticles conditioned media in comparison with non-treated cells (p < 0.05). Advanced-platelet-rich fibrin conditioned medium was unable to promote calcium deposition compared to the combination of advanced-platelet-rich fibrin and gold nanoparticles (p < 0.05). Adding gold nanoparticles to advanced-platelet-rich fibrin and fibrin and platelet byproducts could be an alternative strategy to improve osteogenic capacity of stem cells.