Open AccessNanosecond Pulse Electric Field Activated‐Platelet Rich Plasma Enhances the Return of Blood Flow to Large and Ischemic Wounds in a Rabbit Model
Author(s) -
Hargrave Barbara,
Li Francis
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.12461
Subject(s) - medicine , blood flow , saline , wound healing , platelet rich plasma , hindlimb , laser doppler velocimetry , platelet , ischemia , dorsum , surgery , anesthesia , anatomy
Platelet‐rich plasma is a therapeutic strategy used for accelerating wound healing of a wide range of tissues through the release of platelet growth factors. Here, we describe a nonchemical, safe method for preparing platelet‐rich plasma using nanosecond‐pulsed electric fields (ns PEF s) and investigated the effect of this platelet‐rich plasma on reperfusion of blood in large skin flap or ischemic hind limb wounds in New Zealand White rabbits. Laser Doppler images of blood flow to the dorsal surface of skin flap wounds or to ischemic hind limb wounds were obtained from wounds treated with 0.9% saline or nanosecond‐pulsed electric field prepared platelet‐rich plasma (ns PRP ). Reperfusion in the skin flap wounds was greater in the ns PRP ‐treated wounds than in the wounds treated with saline on postoperative days 3 ( P < 0.001) and 21 ( P < 0.03). Reperfusion in the ischemic hind‐limb treated with ns PRP was greater than in the saline‐treated limb on post‐operative Day 3 ( P < 0.001), post‐operative week 1 ( P < 0.025) and post‐operative week 4 ( P < 0.015). In the hind limb ischemic tissue, the number of endothelial cells, collagen, and cells containing vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF ) was greater in the ns PRP ‐treated tissue. These results demonstrate that ns PRP improves blood flow in large surgical skin wounds and in ischemic wounds.