Effect of thermal manipulation on the biological and mechanical characteristics of horizontal platelet rich fibrin membranes

Abstract

Purpose Regardless of application scenarios, proper mechanical characteristics and degradation property is the prerequisite for horizontal platelet rich fibrin (H-PRF) to manifest its ability. Among the methods used to modify PRF, thermal manipulation is promising as it is easy to handle without adding extra additives. Yet there is no consensus on optimal temperature treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of heating on the biological and mechanical characteristics and explore the most suitable heating temperature for H-PRF thermal treatment.Methods We employed a series of temperature gradients, room temperature, 50℃, 75℃, 90℃, 105℃. The microstructure and the mechanical properties were recorded by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and tensile strength tests respectively. The degradation rate of H-PRF membranes was examined by digestion assay with plasmin and trypsin. The viability of cells within H-PRF membranes and the proliferation of osteoblasts cultured with extracts from different H-PRF groups was evaluated using CCK-8 assays.Results Compared with the nonheated group, over-heated manipulation beyond 90℃ can significantly prolong the degradation properties up to 3 to 4 weeks and enhance the mass stress of H-PRF membranes. A high temperature treatment of 105℃ accompanied with the cell activity beneath H-PRF reduced more than half and thus the biological effect to human osteoblasts (hFOBs) also reduced dramatically.Conclusions High thermal manipulation can prolong the degradation properties and enhance the mechanical properties of PRF membranes while accompanied by the loss of biological effect.