Objectives: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been utilized in regenerative medicine as a concentration of autologous platelets and growth factors that stimulates tissue regeneration. More recently, liquid-PRF (also called injectable-PRF; i-PRF) has been brought to market utilizing PET plastic tubes. Due to new advances made in tube technology, the first aim of the present study was to investigate the liquid consistency of liquid-PRF utilizing both standard and chemically modified PET plastic tubes. Furthermore, it is well known that the conversion of PRF into a fibrin matrix is derived from the temperature-controlled enzymatic process that converts liquid fibrinogen and thrombin to solid fibrin. This study also investigated for the first time the use of a cooling device (Bio-Cool) to extend the liquid working properties of liquid-PRF.

Materials and methods: In total, 30 participants enrolled in this study. From each patient, four tubes of liquid-PRF were drawn, two standard white Vacuette tubes and two blue chemically modified hydrophobic tubes. Following centrifugation at 700 RCF-max for 8 min in a Bio-PRF horizontal centrifuge, one white and one blue tube were kept upright at room temperature, while the other white and blue tube were placed within the cooling device. Thereafter, the liquid-PRF layers were monitored over time until clotting occurred. Patient gender, age, and altitude above sea level (+ 5000 ft) were recorded and compared for clotting times.

Results: The findings from the present study demonstrated that the chemically modified PET tubes performed 37% better than the control tubes (extended the working properties of liquid-PRF by over 20 min). Most surprisingly, tubes kept in the cooling device demonstrated an average of 90 min greater working time (270% improvement). While patients living at altitude did significantly improve the clotting ability of liquid-PRF, no differences were observed when comparing male vs female or younger vs older patients in liquid-PRF clotting times.

Conclusions: Cooling of blood following centrifugation represented a 270% improvement in working properties of liquid-PRF. Optimization of liquid-PRF tubes utilizing chemically modified hydrophobic PET tubes also delayed the clotting process by 37%. Patient gender and age had little relevance on liquid-PRF.

Clinical relevance: The present findings demonstrate for the first time that cooling of liquid-PRF is able to extend the working properties of liquid-PRF by over 90 min. Thus for clinicians performing longer clinical procedures, the cooling of blood may represent a viable strategy to improve the working time of liquid-PRF in clinical practice.

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