INTRODUCTION
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) originally was used in the orthopedic and dental arenas for its regenerative effects in wound healing.1-2 PRP is gaining popularity in aesthetic medicine as an injectable and topical treatment for improving the appearance of photoaged skin.3-5 Efficacious topical PRP for long term usage was not previously possible due to shelf life and stability limitations.
Platelets are anucleaic cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes found in bone marrow. The platelet contains mitochondria, microtubules, and α, δ, λ-granules.6 There may be 50 to 80 granules in a platelet containing biologically active substances including adhesive proteins, plasma proteins, cellular mitogens, coagulation factors, protease inhibitors, micro vesicles, and exosomes.7 During platelet activation, degranulation occurs leading to the secretion of biologically active molecules. Degranulation of PRP must be inhibited until the topical preparation is applied to the skin; thus, creating long-term stability challenges.
PRP stability can be achieved by 3 key mechanisms: (1) reduce platelet activation during blood collection, preparation, centrifugation processing, and storage; (2) reduce glucose consumption and lactate production; (3) provide ample glucose during storage.8 These concepts were incorporated into the PRP topical vehicle utilized in this research containing electrolytes, an electrolytic resistant chassis, glucose, and a preservative system with anti-fungal/anti-bacterial property that also functions as a preservative for the platelet's active biomolecules. This research examined the ability of the topical vehicle to maintain platelet granule stability while delivering an aesthetically pleasing PRP-containing anti-aging formulation to the face.
Platelets are anucleaic cytoplasmic fragments derived from megakaryocytes found in bone marrow. The platelet contains mitochondria, microtubules, and α, δ, λ-granules.6 There may be 50 to 80 granules in a platelet containing biologically active substances including adhesive proteins, plasma proteins, cellular mitogens, coagulation factors, protease inhibitors, micro vesicles, and exosomes.7 During platelet activation, degranulation occurs leading to the secretion of biologically active molecules. Degranulation of PRP must be inhibited until the topical preparation is applied to the skin; thus, creating long-term stability challenges.
PRP stability can be achieved by 3 key mechanisms: (1) reduce platelet activation during blood collection, preparation, centrifugation processing, and storage; (2) reduce glucose consumption and lactate production; (3) provide ample glucose during storage.8 These concepts were incorporated into the PRP topical vehicle utilized in this research containing electrolytes, an electrolytic resistant chassis, glucose, and a preservative system with anti-fungal/anti-bacterial property that also functions as a preservative for the platelet's active biomolecules. This research examined the ability of the topical vehicle to maintain platelet granule stability while delivering an aesthetically pleasing PRP-containing anti-aging formulation to the face.
METHODS
In Vitro PRP Stability Assessment
Four (4) healthy female or male subjects who met all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria and signed informed consent (IntegReview Institutional Review Board; Austin, TX) were enrolled in this multi-site study. Subjects underwent phlebotomy to obtain 200mL of blood for PRP preparation. During phlebotomy, 50mL of whole blood specimen was harvested per subject in a 60mL syringe containing 10mL of sodium citrate anti-coagulant. The anti-coagulant/whole blood
Four (4) healthy female or male subjects who met all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria and signed informed consent (IntegReview Institutional Review Board; Austin, TX) were enrolled in this multi-site study. Subjects underwent phlebotomy to obtain 200mL of blood for PRP preparation. During phlebotomy, 50mL of whole blood specimen was harvested per subject in a 60mL syringe containing 10mL of sodium citrate anti-coagulant. The anti-coagulant/whole blood
