What is the difference between PRP and PRF?

PRP and PRF are both harvested from the blood. The difference lies in the processing of the blood so that certain specific elements are retained in PRF.

In this blog you will find 3 pictorial elements from paper 2 (Dohan et al.2006) that make it easier to visualize the differences in composition and structure between fibrin, PRP and PRF.

 

A short summary of the differences

In PRF platelet cytokines remain trapped ( colored green) and intrinsically retained in the fibrin/glycoprotein mesh, in addition to the circulating cytokines (red) that are also found in PRP.

The intrinsically retained cytokines on the fibrin mesh (colored green) implies a longer term slow release effect of these biologically active molecules. In PRF the cytokines are thus available on site over a longer time period during the injury site reconstruction compared to PRP. Further more the glycaemic acid chains ( purple) are composed of blood platelet derived heparin and hyaluronic acid and are known to have a great capacity to support the regenerative process.

 

Conclusion

This paper (Dohan et al 2006) indicates that the biomaterial PRF consists of a network of cytokines, glycemic chains and structural glycoproteins all held together by a slow, naturally polymerized , and hence evenly structured fibrin matrix.

The synergistic effects on the healing process of these biochemical components is well known.

One can think of PRF as a «platelet gel» that can be used as a «healing concentrate»

 

Figur 1

Illustration of a pure fibrin network

 

Figur 2

Illustration of PRP – Here we see circulating cytokines ( red) not bound to the fibrin network, freely floating round and hence removed relatively rapidly.

 

Figur 3

Illustration of PRF. Here we see the freely floating cytokines (red) found in PRP, and in addition the fibrin bound, long lasting cytokines , depicted in green. In addition there are glycemic acid chains (purple) that form part of a more stable longer lasting regenerative network.

 

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF): A second-generation platelet concentrate. Part II: Platelet-related biologic features
David M. Dohan, DDS, MS,a Joseph Choukroun, MD,b Antoine Diss, DDS, MS,c Steve L. Dohan,d Anthony J. J. Dohan,e Jaafar Mouhyi, DDS, PhD,f and Bruno Gogly, DDS, MS, PhD,g
Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2006;101:E45-50)