Determining the Effect of Preparation and Storage: An Effort to Streamline Platelet Components as a Source of Growth Factors for Clinical Application

Abstract

Background: In the present study, different methods for preparation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are investigated in order to standardize the component in terms of growth factor content. The effects of concentration technique and storage duration are also analyzed. Methods: PRP was collected from 40 donors by plateletpheresis as well as by the buffy coat and tube method. Concentration of growth factors was performed using double freeze thaw- and CaCl₂-induced degranulation techniques. Growth factor estimation was performed using ELISA. Results: The levels of growth factors were highest in PRP from buffy coat, moderately lower in plasma gained by plateletpheresis and lowest in that obtained by the tube method. Mean levels of platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) AB and BB are significantly higher when CaCl₂ was used for concentrating the growth factors. The mean levels of transforming growth factor β1 and insulin-like growth factor I were higher when applying the double freeze thaw technique. There was a substantial decline in the levels of growth factors during storage. Conclusion: The buffy coat method is suitable as preparation method for PRP in most settings. The double freeze thaw technique is better suited as concentration technique as it causes lysis of both platelets and white blood cells for releasing growth factors and is easier to perform. Growth factors are not stable in plasma, thus PRP should be frozen immediately after preparation.