Effect of platelet-rich plasma on gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblasts: new in-vitro growth assay

The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a source of growth factors is reported to be beneficial for periodontal regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate its effect on gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblast healing on a special growth assay designed by the working group. A wound with a 5 mm of diameter has been performed on periodontal ligament (PDL) and gingival fibroblast (GF) cell cultures. The cell wells were divided into five groups. The control group received only Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/ Ham's (DMEM) and the test groups received 0.5% PRP with 1/3 or 1/2 thrombin; 0.1% PRP with 1/3 or 1/2 thrombin. All of the groups were stained with haemotoxylene-eosine on days 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Digital screenings were performed on each time stop and the results were interpreted by means of % surface area covered by the cells. The results showed that 0.1% PRP with 1/3 thrombin group have closed up the wound circle in GF group at day 9 and in PDL group at days 9 and 11 with a significant difference when compared with other groups. GF response was significantly better than PDL cell response starting from day 5. Concluding, PRP favored wound closure in PDL and GF cell cultures and the developed growth assay may be utilized in future investigations of the biological basis of periodontal wound healing.