Peptides and Platelet Fibrin Synergize for Enhanced Skin Cell Health

The integrity and regeneration of skin are crucial for both aesthetic appearance and protective function. Dermal fibroblasts are key cells responsible for producing the extracellular matrix (ECM), which provides structural support and elasticity to the skin. Factors like aging, sun exposure, and injury can lead to ECM degradation and reduced fibroblast activity, contributing to wrinkles and impaired wound healing. While Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin (i-PRF) and various bioactive peptides have shown promise individually in promoting tissue regeneration, the synergistic potential of combining i-PRF with bioactive peptides for enhancing dermal fibroblast viability and ECM gene expression remains underexplored.

The combination of i-PRF and bioactive peptides demonstrated a potent synergistic effect on dermal fibroblasts. Cell viability in the combination group was significantly enhanced, showing a 35% increase compared to control, which was 20% higher than the sum of individual treatments (15% for i-PRF alone, 10% for peptides alone). ECM gene expression was also markedly upregulated: collagen type I expression increased by 2.5-fold, elastin by 1.8-fold, and hyaluronic acid synthase by 3.0-fold in the combined treatment group compared to untreated controls. These effects were consistently observed across all time points, peaking at 48 hours. > The most significant finding was the synergistic increase in both fibroblast viability and ECM gene expression, indicating that the combined therapy yielded superior results than either component alone, with a p<0.001 for the synergistic effect on viability.