Release Kinetics in PRF Versus GEM21S With and Without Bone Substitutes: An In Vitro Analysis

Growth Factor Availability and Release Kinetics in PRF Versus GEM21S With and Without Bone Substitutes: An In Vitro Analysis

This study is seeking to evaluate that platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) is a proven wound healing and osteogenic protein that plays a critical role in wound healing and previous research has demonstrated a non-linear response where higher dosages produced less effect. As Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) contains numerous platelets, it contains PDGF-BB, but at levels lower than in the commercially available product and with inter-individual variation, GEM21S. To achieve both ideal handling and achieve ideal levels of PDGF-BB, there is a rationale to add GEM 21S recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-BB (rhPDGF) to a bone graft prior to making "sticky bone".

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Bone Loss
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Amount of PDGF-BB in PRF preparation vs. GEM21; Biological: Amount of PDGF-BB available in PRF + bone substitutes vs. rhPDGF-BB+ bone substitutes following preparation; Biological: Release kinetics of PDGF-BB in PRF + bone substitutes vs. rhPDGF-BB + bone substitutes; Biological: Release kinetics of PDGF-BB in rhPDGF-BB + PRF + bone substitutes

Detailed Description

Innovations in biomedicine and recombinant protein technology show promising advances for the regeneration of advanced alveolar defects. Recombinant growth factors and biologics encourage minimally invasive procedures with improved clinical outcomes/healing times in complex oral surgery procedures. PDGF-BB is a growth factor that is known to be a potent mitogen and chemotactic agent for cells important in wound healing and bone regeneration. PDGF-BB is also a strong angiogenic agent. These properties provide a solid biological mechanism of action and rationale for the widespread use of rhPDGF-BB in dental and orthopedic surgery, as well as in the treatment of difficult soft tissue wounds. Practically, two sources of supra-physiologic levels PDGF-BB are currently available for use in dental hard and soft tissue defects: 1) Platelet concentrates (PRF/PRF); and 2) GEM 21S, which contains recombinant human PDGF-BB (rhPDGF-BB). Platelet rich plasma was first introduced to dentistry in 1998 by Robert Marx. Since then, other autologous products have evolved. Platelet rich fibrin (PRF) is one that is used daily in various clinical scenarios, including guided bone regeneration. The rationale for its use is due to the supraphysiologic concentration of growth factors (ie PDGF-BB) and cells to enhance would healing. Clinicians also frequently incorporate PRF to bone grating materials to improve handling properties of the graft material, also referred to as "sticky bone". However, the literature varies greatly on the believed mechanism of action and the therapeutic benefits claimed by their supporters. The rationale for this proposed study that PDGF-BB is a proven wound healing and osteogenic protein, but there are clinically insignificant amounts of PDGF-BB in PRF. Therefore, there is a rationale to add GEM 21S (rhPDGF) to a bone graft prior to making "sticky bone" with PRF. This would provide clinicians the benefits of a clinically proven and consistent dose of rhPDGF to improve wound healing and bone formation in conjunction with the benefits of the improved handling (i.e. sticky bone) from the addition of the PRF.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 5

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Alabama
    • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294-0007
      • University of Alabama at Birmingham

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 99 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants must be at least 18 years old with demonstrated ability to understand and consent to the proposed study procedures. Subjects treated in the UAB School of Dentistry Periodontal Clinic and scheduled for procedures using platelet rich fibrin (PRF) were performed.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• English speaking
• At least 18 years old
• Able to read and understand informed consent document
• Systemically healthy, non-smoker, no medications

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-English speaking
• Less than 18 years old
• Smokers/tobacco users (>10 cigarettes/day)
• Patients with systemic pathologies or conditions contraindicating oral surgical procedures or adversely affecting healing

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Amount of PDGF-BB in PRF preparation vs. GEM21; The release kinetics of PDGF-BB will be assessed for one PRF preparation from each of the six individual participants and one GEM 21S sample. The quantification will be performed at 60 minutes, 8 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 10 days. The samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At each desired time point assessment, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol.	Biological: Amount of PDGF-BB in PRF preparation vs. GEM21; The quantification will be performed at 60 minutes, 8 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 10 days. The samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At each desired time point assessment, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol.
PDGF-BB available in PRF + bone substitutes vs. rhPDGF-BB+ bone substitutes; Growth factor release assessments will be made to determine the PDGF-BB present in the six prepared samples of the following: 1) PRF + mineralized freeze-dried corticocancellous allograft, 2) PRF + xenograft, and 3) PRF + B-TCP. Assessments will also be made for one sample of each of the following: 1) rhPDGF-BB + freeze-dried bone allograft, 2) rhPDGF-BB + xenograft, and 3) rhPDGF-BB+ B-TCP preparation. This assessment will be made at 60 minutes following the incorporation of the bone graft materials. During this time period, the samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At 60 minutes after preparation, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol.	Biological: Amount of PDGF-BB available in PRF + bone substitutes vs. rhPDGF-BB+ bone substitutes following preparation; Growth factor release assessments will be made to determine the PDGF-BB present in the six prepared samples of the following: 1) PRF + mineralized freeze-dried corticocancellous allograft, 2) PRF + xenograft, and 3) PRF + B-TCP. Assessments will also be made for one sample of each of the following: 1) rhPDGF-BB + freeze-dried bone allograft, 2) rhPDGF-BB + xenograft, and 3) rhPDGF-BB+ B-TCP preparation. This assessment will be made at 60 minutes following the incorporation of the bone graft materials. During this time period, the samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At 60 minutes after preparation, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol.
: Release kinetics of PDGF-BB in PRF + bone substitutes vs. rhPDGF-BB + bone substitutes; The release kinetics of PDGF-BB will be assessed for six preparations of each of following: 1) PRF+ mineralized freeze-dried corticocancellous allograft, 2) PRF + bone xenograft, and 3) PRF + B-TCP. The release kinetics of PDGF-BB will also be assessed for one preparations of each of following: 1) rhPDGF-BB + mineralized freeze-dried corticocancellous allograft, 2) rhPDGF-BB + bone xenograft, 3) rhPDGF-BB + TCP. The quantification will be performed at 60 minutes, 8 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 10 days. The samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At each desired time point assessment, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol.	Biological: Release kinetics of PDGF-BB in PRF + bone substitutes vs. rhPDGF-BB + bone substitutes; The release kinetics of PDGF-BB will be assessed for six preparations of each of following: 1) PRF+ mineralized freeze-dried corticocancellous allograft, 2) PRF + bone xenograft, and 3) PRF + B-TCP. The release kinetics of PDGF-BB will also be assessed for one preparations of each of following: 1) rhPDGF-BB + mineralized freeze-dried corticocancellous allograft, 2) rhPDGF-BB + bone xenograft, 3) rhPDGF-BB + TCP. The quantification will be performed at 60 minutes, 8 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 10 days. The samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At each desired time point assessment, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol.
Release kinetics of PDGF-BB in rhPDGF-BB + PRF + bone substitutes; The quantification will be performed at 60 minutes, 8 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 10 days. The samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At each desired time point assessment, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol. The samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At each desired time point assessment, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol.	Biological: Release kinetics of PDGF-BB in rhPDGF-BB + PRF + bone substitutes; The quantification will be performed at 60 minutes, 8 hours, 1 day, 3 days, and 10 days. The samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At each desired time point assessment, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol. The samples will each be placed in a cell incubator at 37°C to allow for growth factor release into a phosphate-buffered saline. At each desired time point assessment, 2 ml of the sample will be collected, frozen, and replaced with 2 ml of additional phosphate-buffered saline. The protein quantification will be carried out using ELISA assay according to manufacturer's protocol.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To quantify any difference in the release of PDGF-BB after application to rhPDGF-BB and PRF	The quantities of PDGF-BB statistical analysis using a two-way analysis of variance for the proliferation assay with Bonferroni test.	From baseline to 10 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 31, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2023
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 6, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 6, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): July 16, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 2, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 24, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Growth factor; Platelet concentrates; Platelet-rich fibrin; Bone morphogenic protein
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Hypothalamic Hormones; Peptide Hormones; Neuropeptides; Peptides; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Proteins; Biological Factors; Biomedical and Dental Materials; Manufactured Materials; Technology, Industry, and Agriculture; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; DNA-Binding Proteins; Biocompatible Materials; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; Becaplermin; Prolactin-Releasing Hormone; Bone Substitutes
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-300005971; UAB-Perio (Other Identifier: University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No