Efficacy of a New Autologus Platelet Gel: in Vitro Study

Abstract Background Autologus platelet gel is easy to prepare and is relatively low cost. The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate in vitro efficacy of autologus platelet gel. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, platelet concentrate and platelet poor plasma were prepared with aphaeresis method. Thrombin was prepared by mixing the plasma with calcium. Thrombin activity level was determined by spectrophotometric method. The platelet gel was obtained by adding thrombin and calcium to the platelet rich plasma. The concentration of growth factors was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results Platelet rich plasma contained a total average of 1×1011 platelet in the 100 ml product. The highest activity of prepared thrombin was achieved at a ratio of 5 vol (5ml) platelet poor plasma to 1 volium (1ml) calcium gluconate (p=0.02). Produced thrombin was stable for two hours at 24ºC, six hours at 4ºC, and more than three months at -20ºC (p=0.04). Concentration of platelet derived growth factor and transforming growth factors-β in platelet gel supernatants were generally high (23.2 ± 6 ng/ml, 18.2 ± 5ng/ml respectively), whereas epithelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor were present at low concentration (870 ± 110 pg/ml, 24.7 ± 3 pg/ml respectively). Conclusion With proper production, large numbers of platelets in the platelet rich plasma will be activated, hence high concentration of growth factors will be produced.