Effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membranes on the healing of infected skin wounds

Tissue engineering focuses on wound healing and tissue regeneration. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a fibrin matrix containing cytokines, growth factors and cells that are gradually released into the wound over time. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of PRF membranes on wound repair and microbial control in infected wounds. Skin wounds were performed on the dorsum of rats using a 6 mm diameter metal punch. The defects were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 12/each) accordingly to the treatment: G1, noninfected wound filled only with clot; G2, noninfected wound with PRF; G3, infected wound (S. aureus) without PRF; G4, infected wound (S. aureus) with PRF. After 7 and 14 days, macroscopic and histological analyses of the wounds were performed. Furthermore, the quantification of β-defensin in PRF was measured by ELISA. At 14 days, the groups with PRF (G2 and G4) had wound sizes significantly smaller than the original defects (6 mm) (p < 0.05) and significantly smaller than those not treated with PRF, in both the infected and noninfected groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the groups with infected wounds (G3 and G4) demonstrated a significantly lower inflammation score in the PRF group than in the noninfected groups (p < 0.05). In vitro analysis of β-defensin was performed in all PRF membrane groups, and the median value was 1.444 pg/mL. PRF in the wounds of both control and infected rats played an important role in the modulation of tissue healing, most notably in infected sites.