Platelet-rich fibrin membranes resistance to traction comparing A-PRF versus A-PRF+

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to formulate a comparison of the mechanical properties of tensile strength and structural organization between membranes produced by A-PRF (Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin) and A-PRF+ (Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin+). Materials and Methods: Blood was collected from a healthy donor with no history of anticoagulant or immunosuppressant use, the membranes were prepared following the protocol indications defined in the literature for A-PRF and A-PRF+. From an N=16 for each protocol, 13 membranes of A-PRF and 12 of A-PRF+ were submitted to the traction test, evaluating maximum and average traction. Data was statistically analyzed using the unpaired t test. Membranes were then carefully observed in SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy). Results: For maximum traction were obtained 0.0020 for A-PRF and 0.0022 for A-PRF+. Regarding the average traction, A-PRF scored 0.0012 while A-PRF+ obtained 0.0015 (p=0.01 unpaired t-test). Surface morphology observations with SEM, A-PRF+ showed to be the most porous platelet concentrate, with greatest fiber abundance and cell preservation.
Conclusion: This study allowed to conclude that A-PRF+ protocol was able to produce membranes with higher maximum traction results than those found for A-PRF, indicating that the protocol with low centrifugation time, presented membranes with better viscoelastic strength when they are stretched by two opposed forces. To this phenomenon is added the architecture demonstrated in the A-PRF+ matrix and the optimized biological propertied described in literature. A-PRF+, by the view of the developed findings in this work, a better option compared to A-PRF.

Date of Award	23 Jul 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Gustavo Fernandes (Supervisor) & Nuno Malta dos Santos (Co-Supervisor)