platelet-rich plasma

Overview

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood-derived biologic preparation enriched in platelets and, consequently, in platelet-associated growth factors and signaling molecules. In biomedical research and clinical practice, PRP is investigated as a regenerative adjunct intended to support tissue repair, angiogenesis, and wound healing by delivering concentrated endogenous mediators at the site of injury.

Because PRP is derived from the patient’s own blood, it is generally studied as a minimally invasive therapeutic platform rather than a conventional drug. Recent research has explored its use across diverse regenerative settings, including chronic wounds, skin graft support, adipose tissue regeneration, spinal cord injury, and musculoskeletal conditions such as lumbar disc herniation. Mechanistically, PRP is often discussed in relation to pathways involving VEGFA, PTEN, Akt1, and mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase, as well as in combination with mesenchymal stem cell, extracellular vesicle-based approaches, and engineered biomaterials.

Focus of Latest Publications

Recent publications have continued to position PRP as a regenerative adjunct across wound healing, reconstructive surgery, musculoskeletal disease, and nerve repair.

In a refractory venous leg ulcer case report, autologous PRP was used after multiple failed skin grafts. The publication framed PRP as a regenerative adjunct capable of delivering concentrated endogenous growth factors, highlighting its use in a difficult chronic wound setting where conventional graft-based management had not succeeded.

In plastic and reconstructive surgery research, PRP was evaluated as a biologic adjunct for enhancing angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. One experimental study compared PRP with plasma gel for fat graft survival under cigarette smoke exposure, reflecting interest in whether PRP can improve graft viability in a biologically stressed environment. A separate commentary emphasized the need for minimum information standards for studies of biologics in plastic surgery, noting that PRP and mesenchymal stem cells are increasingly used for applications ranging from facial rejuvenation to wound healing. This underscores both the breadth of PRP use and the need for standardized reporting.

Several studies focused on wound repair and scaffold-based delivery systems. One investigation developed a 3D-printed cell-free bioactive hydrogel composed of methacrylated hyaluronic acid, methacrylated silk fibroin, and PRP for adipose tissue regeneration. Another study combined PRP with a biodegradable poly(glycerol sebacate)/poly(lactic acid) scaffold to enhance skin regeneration in diabetic wounds in rats. These studies reflect a broader trend of incorporating PRP into biomaterial platforms to improve local retention and biological activity. In a related skin wound model, a bioactive hydrogel integrating bFGF/VEGFA gene-loaded nanoparticles with PRP was designed to accelerate full-thickness skin wound healing, with the rationale that growth factors and PRP may act synergistically to promote repair.

PRP has also been explored in neurologic and musculoskeletal contexts. A protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial was published to evaluate ultrasound-guided PRP injection plus physiotherapy versus physiotherapy alone in patients with L5/S1 lumbar disc herniation. This indicates ongoing clinical interest in PRP as part of a conservative care pathway for disc-related pain and dysfunction. In spinal cord injury research, PRP-primed bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes were studied for their ability to inhibit neuronal apoptosis and autophagy and promote nerve regeneration via the miR-29a-3p/PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis. Although the intervention centered on exosomes, PRP served as the priming biologic, linking it to signaling pathways involving PTEN, Akt1, and mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase.

Overall, the recent literature portrays PRP as a versatile biologic used alone or in combination with scaffolds, hydrogels, stem cell-derived products, and rehabilitation-based care. The common theme across these studies is the attempt to leverage PRP’s growth factor content to enhance angiogenesis, tissue regeneration, and functional recovery in settings such as chronic ulcers, diabetic wounds, adipose tissue defects, fat grafting, disc herniation, and spinal cord injury.

Key Publications

Jul Platelet-Rich Plasma in a Refractory Venous Leg Ulcer Following Multiple Failed Skin Grafts. (International wound journal, 2026, PMID 42367130): "Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is gaining interest as a regenerative adjunct capable of delivering concentrated endogenous growth factors."
Jul Platelet-rich plasma versus plasma gel for fat graft survival under cigarette smoke exposure: An experimental study. (Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS, 2026, PMID 42241808): "Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been proposed as a biological adjunct that enhances angiogenesis and tissue regeneration."
Jun Protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial evaluating a care pathway incorporating ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injection plus physiotherapy versus physiotherapy alone in patients with L5/S1 lumbar disc herniation. (Contemporary clinical trials communications, 2026, PMID 42023259): "Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is emerging as a regenerative therapy for LDH."
Jun A commentary on the need for minimum information for studies evaluating biologics in plastic surgery. (Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery : JPRAS, 2026, PMID 42054980): "Biologics including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly utilized in plastic surgery for applications ranging from facial rejuvenation to wound healing."
Jun 3D-printed cell-free bioactive scaffolds from methacrylated hyaluronic acid and silk fibroin incorporating platelet-rich plasma for adipose tissue regeneration. (International journal of biological macromolecules, 2026, PMID 42070602): "To fabricate cell-free scaffolds for adipose tissue regeneration, this study developed a novel composite bioactive hydrogel based on methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA), methacrylated silk fibroin (SFMA), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)."
May A bioactive hydrogel integrating bFGF/VEGFA gene-loaded nanoparticles and platelet-rich plasma for accelerated full-thickness skin wound healing. (PloS one, 2026, PMID 42189841): "Although previous studies have established that growth factors and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) individually promote tissue repair, the synergistic benefits of their combined application for achieving superior therapeutic outcomes remain unclear."
May Platelet-rich plasma-primed bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes inhibit neuronal apoptosis and autophagy, and promote nerve regeneration via the miR-29a-3p/PTEN/PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis after spinal cord injury. (Journal of molecular histology, 2026, PMID 42165939): "Both platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) exhibit therapeutic potential for spinal cord injury (SCI)."
May Platelet-rich plasma combined with a biodegradable scaffold enhances skin regeneration in diabetic wounds. (Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries, 2026, PMID 41861435): "This study aimed to evaluate the regenerative potential of a poly(glycerol sebacate)/poly(lactic acid) (PGS/PLA) scaffold incorporated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for full-thickness skin wound repair in rats."