Slow release of growth factors and thrombospondin-1 in Choukroun's platelet-rich fibrin (PRF): a gold standard to achieve for all surgical platelet concentrates technologies

Platelet concentrates for surgical topical applications are nowadays often used, but quantification of the long-term growth factor release from these preparations in most cases is impossible. Indeed, in most protocols, platelets are massively activated and there is no significant fibrin matrix to support growth factor release and cell migration. Choukroun's platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), a second generation platelet concentrate, is a leucocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin biomaterial. Here, we show that this dense fibrin membrane releases high quantities of three main growth factors (Transforming Growth Factor b-1 (TGF beta-1), platelet derived growth factor AB, PDGF-AB; vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF) and an important coagulation matricellular glycoprotein (thrombospondin-1, TSP-1) during 7 days. Moreover, the comparison between the final released amounts and the initial content of the membrane (after forcible extraction) allows us to consider that the leucocytes trapped in the fibrin matrix continue to produce high quantities of TGF beta-1 and VEGF during the whole experimental time.