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Growth factors are naturally occurring proteins primarily found in platelets and macrophages. The cascade of growth factors represent the messengers/mediators of the wound-healing scheme, so when they are deficient or trapped as in chronic wounds, they must be replaced and/or their healing activities restored. An excellent source of natural growth factors is human platelet rich plasma (PRP). PRP gel can be used to re-establish the balanced environment missing in chronic wounds. The system harnesses the patient’s natural healing processes with the delivery of a platelet gel containing growth factors, cytokines and chemokines for cell growth and formation of new tissue. Restoring the balance in the wound environment can transform a non healing wound to a wound that heals naturally.
In normal wound healing, platelets migrate from the blood into a wound site, where they serve as a primary source of growth factors, chemokines and cytokines that regulate biological responses critical for effective wound healing. Platelet factor 4 (PF-4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) are some examples of proteins released by platelets to control the migration of cells, the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), cell growth, cell differentiation and deposition of new tissue. In chronic wounds and other tissues where blood supply may be low, the delivery of platelets is often impeded so adequate concentrations of growth factors, cytokines and chemokines are not released and wound healing stalls. In these cases, a patients’ own platelet rich plasma can be activated to generate a fibrin rich gel that serves as a rich source of growth factors, cytokines and chemokines to re-establish balance in the wound bed. The PRP System harnesses the patient’s natural healing processes to providing growth factors, chemokines and cytokines known to promote angiogenesis and to regulate cell growth and formation of new tissue. PRP technology restores the balance in the wound environment to transform a non-healing wound to a wound that heals naturally.