Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties as well as the structural analysis of autologous platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) as compared to autologous leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF).
Materials& Methods: Sixty three cubic centimeters (cc) venous blood was obtained from 10 male volunteers. Twenty seven cc were used to prepare 3 specimens of L-PRF (group 1), twenty seven cc were used to get 3 specimens of PRFM (group 2) and nine cc for whole blood analysis. After centrifugation, blood analyses were performed on the residual plasma after collecting L-PRF and PRFM. The L-PRF and PRFM membranes were processed for examination by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and their mechanical properties were measured by a universal testing machine.
Results:Tensile strength and maximum tensile strain of L-PRF group was significantly higher than PRFM group (p < 0.01). PRFM group was significantly stiffer than L-PRF group (p < 0.01). Light microscopy revealed that the platelets were less but more equally distributed in the PRFM than L-PRF. The border between the cellular components and the fibrin network appeared thicker in the PRFM samples than in the L-PRF samples and shows a highly organized network with continuous integrity. TEM showed that both membranes contained two components: a fibrillar material similar to fibrin filaments, and a cellular component that contains human platelet cells. TEM analysis demonstrated that PRFM membrane had more nonactivated platelets.
Conclusion: The present study shows that the structural and mechanical properties of PRFM may fit characteristics desirable for GTR procedures more than that of L-PRF.