Effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Fat and Nanofat Survival: An Experimental Study on Mice.

BACKGROUND: Nanofat and fat graft survival is an important clinical problem. The authors of this study investigated whether PRP has an impact on fat and nanofat graft survival and vascularization in a mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fat was harvested from a 50-year-old healthy woman by vacuum suction, and nanofat was obtained by emulsification and centrifugation procedures. PRP was collected after two rounds of centrifugation from an autologous blood sample. Twenty male nude mice were divided into four treatment groups: PRP/nanofat, PRP/fat, saline/nanofat and saline/fat. After 1 month and 3 months, the grafts were extracted and weighed. The microstructure of the fat and nanofat was examined with a scanning electron microscope. HE and immunohistochemical staining was applied to observe neovascularization. Western blot analysis was used to analyse the expression of CD31 and VEGF. RESULTS: In fat tissue, fat cells had normal connections; the fat structure was complete and fibre networks were visible. In nanofat, the extracellular matrix vascular components were visible and their structures were intact. At 1 month and 3 months, the graft weights in the PRP/fat group were significantly higher than those in the other groups. Further, a higher degree of neovascularization was observed in the PRP/nanofat group, and the expression of CD31 and VEGF in the PRP/nanofat group was higher than that in the other groups. CONCLUSION: PRP can promote nanofat and fat graft survival and vascularization. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .