Autologous i-PRF promotes healing of radiation-induced skin injury

Skin, as an exposed tissue, often suffers damage after exposure to radiotherapy and accidental events, which may lead to the formation of chronic refractory wounds. However, effective treatment options are usually limited for severe radiation-induced skin injury (RSI). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been identified to promote wound healing, but whether a new generation of blood-derived biomaterial, injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF), is effective in repairing RSI remains unclear. In this study, blood was drawn from humans and Sprague–Dawley rats to prepare PRP and i-PRF, and the regenerative functions of PRP and i-PRF were investigated by exposing the dorsal skin of SD rats to local radiation (45 Gy) and exposing HDF-α cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cells to X-rays (10 Gy). The healing effect of i-PRF on RSI was analysed by tube formation assay, cell migration and apoptosis assays, ROS assay, wound healing assay, histological characterisation and immunostaining. The results showed that exposure to high doses of radiation reduced cell viability, increased ROS levels and induced cell apoptosis, thereby causing dorsal trauma of rats. However, both PRP and i-PRF could resisted RSI, and they were capable of reducing inflammation and promoting angiogenesis and vascular regeneration. i-PRF has a higher concentration of platelets and platelet-derived growth factors, which has a more convenient preparation method and better repair effect and possesses a good application prospect for the repair of RSI.