Platelet-Rich Fibrin Extract: A Promising Fetal Bovine Serum Alternative in Explant Cultures of Human Periosteal Sheets for Regenerative Therapy

Abstract

In 2004, we developed autologous periosteal sheets for the treatment of periodontal bone defects. This regenerative therapy has successfully regenerated periodontal bone and augmented alveolar ridge for implant placement. However, the necessity for 6-week culture is a limitation. Here, we examined the applicability of a human platelet-rich fibrin extract (PRFext) as an alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for the explant culture of periosteal sheets in a novel culture medium (MSC-PCM) originally developed for maintaining mesenchymal stem cells. Small periosteum tissue segments were expanded in MSC-PCM + 2% PRFext for 4 weeks, and the resulting periosteal sheets were compared with those prepared by the conventional method using Medium199 + 10% FBS for their growth rate, cell multilayer formation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and surface antigen expression (CD73, CD90, and CD105). Periosteal sheets grew faster in the novel culture medium than in the conventional medium. However, assessment of cell shape and ALP activity revealed that the periosteal cells growing in the novel medium were relatively immature. These findings suggest that the novel culture medium featuring PRFext offers advantages by shortening the culture period and excluding possible risks associated with xeno-factors without negatively altering the activity of periosteal sheets.