Purpose: Adding bone marrow cells to ceramic materials provides an osteoprogenic capacity favouring bony regrowth. Likewise, addition of platelets, which contain growth factors, might increase the rate of bone formation. The purpose of this work was to quantify in vitro the osteogenic potential obtained by adding platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to the bone marrow culture on ceramic materials.

Material and methods: PRP was obtained by centrifugation of blood and added to bone marrow cells harvested from the iliac crest and cultured on biphasic macroporous ceramic materials. Addition of PRP was repeated with platelet counts every two days. Differentiation of bone marrow cell into cells with osteogenic potential was evaluated by quantifying alkaline phosphatase activity after 15 days culture.

Results: Proliferation of mesenchymatous cells was clearly enhanced in cultures with PRP (+31%). Mean prevalence of phasphatase-alkaline-positive colonies was also improved after addition of PRP (+38%). Similarly, alkaline phosphatase activity was higher after addition of PRP (+31%).

Discussion: Adjunction of PRP to bone marrow cells cultured on ceramic materials stimulates proliferation of osteoblast-like cells. Increased cell proliferation and differentiation observed in vitro provides quantitative elements favouring the combination of platelets with bone grafts using bone substitutes.