Evaluation of Albumin Platelet-Rich Fibrin Following SRP in Patients With Periodontitis

The study aims to investigate the effects of applying albumin platelet-rich fibrin (Alb-PRF) into periodontal pockets following scaling and root planing (SRP) on clinical, radiographic, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) growth factor parameters in patients with periodontitis. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone surrounding the teeth, leading to tooth mobility and potential tooth loss if left untreated. SRP represents the initial and most important therapeutic intervention, involving mechanical removal of plaque and calculus, as well as smoothing of root surfaces to reduce inflammation and facilitate healing. While SRP alone can decrease pocket depth and provide some clinical attachment gain, healing is often limited, generally resulting in repair through long junctional epithelium rather than true regeneration. To enhance clinical outcomes and accelerate regeneration, various adjunctive therapies, including local antibiotics, regenerative materials, photodynamic therapy, and laser treatments, have been explored and reported to provide positive effects. In recent years, autologous PRF applied into the periodontal pocket has demonstrated beneficial contributions to both clinical and biochemical parameters, as it is rich in concentrated platelets and alpha granules containing growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), which collectively promote cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration, and wound healing. PRF not only delivers these growth factors but also provides a fibrin matrix that acts as a scaffold to support tissue repair. However, the clinical efficacy of PRF is limited by its relatively short duration in the tissue, with effects diminishing approximately 10 days after application, and absorption occurring within a short time frame. To overcome these limitations, a modified approach has been developed in which the upper plasma fraction (platelet poor plasma, PPP) is heat-treated and mixed with the middle PRF layer to produce an Alb-PRF. This material demonstrates prolonged residence in tissue, delayed resorption, and sustained release of growth factors, while also exhibiting improved mechanical properties compared to conventional PRF. In the present study, 23 patients diagnosed with generalized Stage III Grade B periodontitis based on clinical and radiographic examinations will be enrolled. Eligible participants are adults without systemic diseases, not using medications, non-smokers, and not pregnant or breastfeeding, and who have not received periodontal therapy within the past six months. A randomized controlled split-mouth design will be implemented, with one side of the mouth serving as the test site receiving SRP+Alb-PRF, and the contralateral side serving as the control site receiving SRP alone. Clinical periodontal indices, including plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, and gingival recession, will be recorded at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Radiographic assessment of defect depth, percentage of root involvement, and defect angles will be performed at baseline and 6 months. GCF samples will be collected from the deepest pockets at baseline and on days 7, 14, and 21 post-treatment, isolated using periostrips following removal of supragingival plaque, and analyzed for PDGF-BB, VEGF, b-FGF, and TGF-β concentrations using ELISA at the Gülhane Training and Research Hospital Biochemistry Department. Blood for preparation of Alb-PRF will be drawn from the antecubital vein, centrifuged to separate layers, and the upper plasma fraction heated and mixed with injectable PRF using a three-way serum kit to produce the gel, which will then be carefully applied to deep pockets in the test region without overflow. Clinical, radiographic, and biochemical outcomes will be statistically analyzed using SPSS software, employing paired tests such as dependent t-tests, Wilcoxon, and Friedman tests for intra-subject comparisons, with Pearson correlation analysis for continuous variables, and a significance threshold of p<0.05. The sample size of 23 patients (providing 46 test and control sites) was calculated based on previous studies to achieve 95% statistical power. The investigators hypothesized that Alb-PRF application will result in superior clinical attachment gain and prolonged expression of growth factors compared to SRP alone, thus potentially enhancing both soft tissue and alveolar bone regeneration.