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World J Clin Cases. Apr 16, 2023; 11(11): 2396-2404
Published online Apr 16, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i11.2396
Platelet rich fibrin is not a barrier membrane! Or is it?
Amit Arvind Agrawal
Amit Arvind Agrawal, Department of Periodontology and Implantology, Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandir's Karmaveer Bhausaheb Hiray Dental College and Hospital, Nasik 422003, India
Author contributions: Agrawal AA has solely contributed to the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author declared no conflict of interest related to this manuscript.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Amit Arvind Agrawal, MDS, MPhil, Doctor, Professor, Department of Peridontology and Implantology, Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandir's Karmaveer Bhausaheb Hiray Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai-Agra Road, Panchavati, Near Kannamwar Bridge, Nasik 422003, India. agrodent@rediffmail.com
Received: January 1, 2023
Peer-review started: January 1, 2023
First decision: January 20, 2023
Revised: January 27, 2023
Accepted: March 17, 2023
Article in press: March 17, 2023
Published online: April 16, 2023
Processing time: 94 Days and 21.5 Hours
Abstract

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is widely used in dentistry and other fields of medicine, and its use has become popular in dental implantology. In several published studies, PRF has been used as a barrier membrane. A barrier membrane is a sheet of a certain material that acts as a biological and mechanical barrier against the invasion of cells that are not involved in bone formation, such as epithelial cells. Among the basic requirements of a 'barrier membrane, occlusivity, stiffness, and space maintenance are the criteria that PRF primarily lacks; therefore, it does not fall under the category of barrier membranes. However, there is evidence that PRF membranes are useful in significantly improving wound healing. Does the PRF membrane act as a barrier? Should we think of adding or subtracting some points from the ideal requirements of a barrier membrane, or should we coin a new term or concept for PRF that will incorporate some features of a barrier membrane and be a combination of tissue engineering and biotechnology? This review is aimed at answering the basic question of whether the PRF membrane should be considered a barrier membrane or whether it is something more beyond the boundaries of a barrier membrane.

Keywords: Platelet rich fibrin; Platelet rich plasma; Barrier membrane; Guided tissue regeneration; Guided bone regeneration

Core Tip: Barrier membranes are an important aspect of guided bone and tissue regeneration in periodontics and implant dentistry. Extensive research has been conducted on barrier membranes; however, no single ideal barrier membrane available. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is increasingly becoming popular in dentistry due to its growth factor-secreting properties and is also known to enhance wound healing and soft tissue thickness at the surgical site. However, PRF membranes are labelled as barrier membranes, although they do not fulfil the basic requirements of a barrier membrane.