The growing multidisciplinary field of tissue engineering aims at predictably regenerating, enhancing, or replacing damaged or missing tissues for a variety of conditions caused by trauma, disease, and old age. One area of research that has gained tremendous awareness in recent years is that of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), which has been utilized across a wide variety of medical fields for the regeneration of soft tissues. This systematic review gathered all the currently available in vitro , in vivo , and clinical literature utilizing PRF for soft tissue regeneration, augmentation, and/or wound healing. In total, 164 publications met the original search criteria, with a total of 48 publications meeting inclusion criteria (kappa score = 94%). These studies were divided into 7 in vitro , 11 in vivo , and 31 clinical studies. In summary, 6 out of 7 (85.7%) and 11 out of 11 (100%) of the in vitro and in vivo studies, respectively, demonstrated a statistically significant advantage for combining PRF to their regenerative therapies. Out of the remaining 31 clinical studies, a total of 8 reported the effects of PRF in a randomized clinical trial, with 5 additional studies (13 total) reporting appropriate controls. In those clinical studies, 9 out of the 13 studies (69.2%) demonstrated a statistically relevant positive outcome for the primary endpoints measured. In total, 18 studies (58% of clinical studies) reported positive wound-healing events associated with the use of PRF, despite using controls. Furthermore, 27 of the 31 clinical studies (87%) supported the use of PRF for soft tissue regeneration and wound healing for a variety of procedures in medicine and dentistry. In conclusion, the results from the present systematic review highlight the positive effects of PRF on wound healing after regenerative therapy for the management of various soft tissue defects found in medicine and dentistry.

Background: Over the past decade, use of leukocyte platelet‐rich fibrin (L‐PRF) has gained tremendous momentum in regenerative dentistry as a low‐cost fibrin matrix used for tissue regeneration. This study characterizes how centrifugation speed (G‐force) along with centrifugation time influence growth factor release from fibrin clots, as well as the cellular activity of gingival fibroblasts exposed to each PRF matrix.Methods: Standard L‐PRF served as a control (2,700 revolutions per minute [rpm]‐12 minutes). Two test groups using low‐speed (1,300 rpm‐14 minutes, termed advanced PRF [A‐PRF]) and low‐speed + time (1,300 rpm‐8 minutes; A‐PRF+) were investigated. Each PRF matrix was tested for growth factor release up to 10 days (eight donor samples) as well as biocompatibility and cellular activity.Results: The low‐speed concept (A‐PRF, A‐PRF+) demonstrated a significant increase in growth factor release of platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1, epidermal growth factor, and insulin‐like growth factor, with A‐PRF+ being highest of all groups. Although all PRF formulations were extremely biocompatible due to their autogenous sources, both A‐PRF and A‐PRF+ demonstrated significantly higher levels of human fibroblast migration and proliferation compared with L‐PRF. Furthermore, gingival fibroblasts cultured with A‐PRF+ demonstrated significantly higher messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of PDGF, TGF‐β, and collagen1 at either 3 or 7 days.Conclusions: The findings from the present study demonstrate modifications to centrifugation speed and time with the low‐speed concept favor an increase in growth factor release from PRF clots. This, in turn, may directly influence tissue regeneration by increasing fibroblast migration, proliferation, and collagen mRNA levels. Future animal and clinical studies are now necessary.