Effect of 0.1% Genipin as a Crosslinking Agent to Degradability of Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF)

Abstract

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) was developed as a barrier membrane in periodontal regenerative therapy. It is known that PRF has a sustained released of growth factor and expected to facilitate the tissue regeneration. Since the PRF membranes have a rapid degradability (1-2 weeks), the regenerative therapy using a PRF membrane should be increased to reduce the degradability using a crosslinking agent which could provide resistance against enzymatic degradation. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of 0.1% genipin as a crosslinking agent to degradability of PRF. PRF membranes were prepared from 20cc blood of healthy donors and immersed in 0.1% genipin solution as a test group and Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) solution as a control group for 2 hours and 72 hours. In order to evaluate degradability, the sample was subjected to 0.01% trypsin. Samples were weighed and the trypsin solution was refreshed every 24 hours. The difference weight represents enzymatic degradation. Degradation degree of sample PRF-crosslinked genipin 0.1% significantly decreased when it compared to the control group. Genipin reacts with primary amines in fibrin, performed a covalent coupling that improves the degradability resistance. This crosslink had to be effective to improve biomechanical properties of PRF as a membrane. This study demonstrated that 0.1% genipin as a crosslinking agent could reduce the degradation-degree of PRF.