The heat-compressed platelet-rich fibrin preparation as a barrier membrane

Introduction: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) was developed to eliminate xenofactors (adding of bovine thrombin) from of platelet-rich plasma. It is mainly used as a source of growth factor for tissue regeneration. PRF in a compressed membrane-like form has also been used as a substitute for commercially available barrier membranes in guided-tissue regeneration (GTR) treatment.
Aim and Objective: To compare physical and histopathological properties of heat and gauze compressed PRF to be used as semi-rigid barrier for GTR. Method: A portion of the prepared PRF membrane was compressed with gauze and with an electric straightening iron. The PRF membrane was wrapped with a ultraviolet-sterilized plastic wrap ( film of polyvinylidene chloride) which was compressed with the electric heat-compression device at 90 degree celsius for 15 s. Gauze and heat-compressed PRF were freshly prepared and were inserted in petri dishes. Incubated in a CO2 incubator with Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS) supplemented with human plasmin (2µg/ml). Tensile strength was measured using Universal testing machine. Then heat and gauze compressed PRF were fixed in 10% neutralized formalin, dehydrated, embedded in paraffin block and sectioned sagittally. Sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) and Masson Trichome (MT).
Results: Tensile strength of heat compressed PRF was stronger than gauze
compressed PRF. The histopathologically heat compressed PRF showed increase crosslinking density among individual fibrin fibers which is expected to reduce the rate of degradation and allows it to serve as a more effective GTR barrier membrane.