Authors:
Nicole LaPlante
;
V. Bogdan Neculaes
;
Brian D. Lee
;
Andrew S. Torres
;
Kenneth Conway
;
Steve Klopman
and
Antonio Caiafa
Affiliation:
GE Global Research Center, United States
Keyword(s):
Activated Platelets, Platelet Gel, Wound Healing, Pulsed Electric Field, Growth Factor.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Biomedical Equipment
;
Biomedical Instruments and Devices
;
Emerging Technologies
;
Telecommunications
;
Wireless and Mobile Technologies
;
Wireless Information Networks and Systems
Abstract:
Activated platelet rich plasma (PRP), also known as platelet gel, is an encouraging autologous cell therapy with numerous applications in areas including: wound healing, haemostasis and wound infection control. Activation of PRP using electric pulse stimulation is a promising alternative to activation via biologics such as bovine thrombin. By removing the need for biologics, it is possible to deliver a cost-effective, fast, truly autologous platelet gel option. In this position paper, we describe parameters for effective ex-vivo release of several growth factors from human platelets in PRP using electric field pulses with the duration of hundreds of nanoseconds. Growth factor release levels with nanosecond pulse electric fields seem at the same level or higher compared to bovine thrombin, the standard platelet activator used in clinical practice. These findings suggest that electric pulse stimulation has the potential to become not only a viable alternative to biochemical platelet ac
tivators, but to actually enhance the desired in vivo biological effects, such as wound healing.
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