Expediting the transition from replacement medicine to tissue engineering

Anti-inflammation effects of injectable platelet-rich fibrin via macrophages and dendritic cells

Immune response to implantation materials plays a critical role during early local inflammation and biomaterial-induced regeneration or restoration. A novel platelet concentrate termed i-PRF (injectable platelet-rich fibrin) has recently been developed without any additives by low centrifugation speeds. To date, scientists have investigated the capability of releasing growth factors to improve regeneration but have ignored whether i-PRF can inhibit the inflammatory effect around the wound. The present study investigated the anti-inflammation effects of i-PRF on immune response-related cells, especially macrophages and dendric cells. We found that i-PRF reduced pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype of macrophages and activated dendritic cells around muscle defect that was injected with bacterial suspension. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed similar results. i-PRF deleted inflammatory response caused by lipopolysaccharide to some extent. We determined that TLR4, an activator of inflammatory stimulation and p-p65, a key factor belongs to classical inflammatory related NF-κB signal pathway, can be inhibited by use of i-PRF. Results indicate the potential anti-inflammatory role of i-PRF during regeneration and restoration.

The use of nanoscaffolds and dendrimers in tissue engineering

To avoid tissue rejection during organ transplantation, research has focused on the use of tissue engineering to regenerate required tissues or organs for patients. The biomedical applications of hyperbranched, multivalent, structurally uniform, biocompatible dendrimers in tissue engineering include the mimicking of natural extracellular matrices (ECMs) in the 3D microenvironment. Dendrimers are unimolecular architects that can incorporate a variety of biological and/or chemical substances in a 3D architecture to actively support the scaffold microenvironment during cell growth. Here, we review the use of dendritic delivery systems in tissue engineering. We discuss the available literature, highlighting the 3D architecture and preparation of these nanoscaffolds, and also review challenges to, and advances in, the use dendrimers in tissue engineering. Advances in the manufacturing of dendritic nanoparticles and scaffold architectures have resulted in the successful incorporation of dendritic scaffolds in tissue engineering.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Soft Tissue Wound Healing: A Systematic Review

The growing multidisciplinary field of tissue engineering aims at predictably regenerating, enhancing, or replacing damaged or missing tissues for a variety of conditions caused by trauma, disease, and old age. One area of research that has gained tremendous awareness in recent years is that of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), which has been utilized across a wide variety of medical fields for the regeneration of soft tissues. This systematic review gathered all the currently available in vitro, in vivo, and clinical literature utilizing PRF for soft tissue regeneration, augmentation, and/or wound healing. In total, 164 publications met the original search criteria, with a total of 48 publications meeting inclusion criteria (kappa score = 94%). These studies were divided into 7 in vitro, 11 in vivo, and 31 clinical studies. In summary, 6 out of 7 (85.7%) and 11 out of 11 (100%) of the in vitro and in vivo studies, respectively, demonstrated a statistically significant advantage for combining PRF to their regenerative therapies. Out of the remaining 31 clinical studies, a total of 8 reported the effects of PRF in a randomized clinical trial, with 5 additional studies (13 total) reporting appropriate controls. In those clinical studies, 9 out of the 13 studies (69.2%) demonstrated a statistically relevant positive outcome for the primary endpoints measured. In total, 18 studies (58% of clinical studies) reported positive wound-healing events associated with the use of PRF, despite using controls. Furthermore, 27 of the 31 clinical studies (87%) supported the use of PRF for soft tissue regeneration and wound healing for a variety of procedures in medicine and dentistry. In conclusion, the results from the present systematic review highlight the positive effects of PRF on wound healing after regenerative therapy for the management of various soft tissue defects found in medicine and dentistry.