Platelet Concentrates as Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering: a Review

Abstract

Tissue engineering is a branch of medical science research that involves application of biomaterials, to functionally restore and regenerate hard or soft tissue defects of various pathologies and trauma. Biomaterial is a substance, engineered either naturally or artificially, that interacts with the host tissue and produces a desirable outcome. Presently, contending technologies are employed to achieve cost-effective biomaterials. This study aimed to review the applications of platelet concentrates (PCs) as a biomaterial in tissue engineering especially in the field of dentistry and regenerative medicine. This review summarizes different types of platelet concentrates (PCs), preparation, biomaterial properties, and applications on stem cell–based therapy. PCs are fibrin matrix with entrapped platelets and leukocytes that appear as fabricated 3D biomaterials. These naturally derived biomaterials consist of cocktails of growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor beta, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and cytokines and chemokines along with fractionated proteins. Hence, they enhance proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, osteogenesis, and chondrogenesis of various types of stem cells. PCs are easily prepared blood-derived 3D-biomaterials, enriched with numerous growth factors and cytokines. Also they are biocompatible, biodegradable, economical, and autologous with multi-lineage potential, hence advantageous over other synthetic biomaterials. Thus, deeper understanding about the biological potential of PCs provides a new perspective on future direction. Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary approach that involves the use of various methods of engineering as well as life sciences to restore, retain or augment tissue function through application of biomaterials or scaffolds. In this field, biomaterials play crucial role. Use of biomaterials of natural origin such as platelet concentrates are the current trend, since it is autologous, cost effective, non-toxic, biodegradable and easily prepared. Platelet concentrates can be an excellent biomaterial of choice for tissue regeneration and stem cell based therapy.