Biologic characteristics of platelet rich plasma and platelet rich fibrin : A review

The recent development of platelet concentrate for surgical use is an evolution of the fibrin glue technologies used since many years. Fibrin is a biologic glue that compact platelet clusters during coagulation process fibrin glues are biologic products that their local application has been used to decrease bleeding and accelerate tissue healing in the past three decades. Fibrin glue prepared based on a natural biologic mechanism (polymerization of fibrin during homeostasis) that reinforced by an artificial way. However, they were ever criticized because were blood derived products and had a high risk of viral infection the production of these products is based on the mixture of two plasma components including fibrinogen and thrombin. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a fibrin matrix in which platelet cytokines, growth factors, and cells are trapped and may be released after a certain time. Choukroun et al. used platelet rich fibrin (PRF) protocol in oral and maxillofacial surgery to improve bone healing. Autologous PRF is considered to be a healing biomaterial, and presently, studies have shown its application in various disciplines of dentistry. PRF is the second generation of platelet concentrates which allows fibrin membranes to get enriched with platelets and growth factors, starting from an anticoagulant free blood harvest. PRF is similar to a fibrin network that allows cell migration and proliferation, and consequently, a more efficient cicatrization. Many growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor, are released from PRF. One of the major differences between PRF and PRP is the different polymerization that is responsible for the different biologic properties. PRF released autologous growth factors gradually and expressed stronger and more durable effect on proliferation and differentiation, which means that PRF could stimulate the surrounding environment to a more rapid wound healing. This review aims to evaluate the effect of biologic characteristics of fibrin glues, PRP, and PRF