title: Platelet activation using electric pulse stimulation: growth factor profile and clinical implications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autologous platelet gel therapy using platelet-rich plasma has emerged as a promising alternative for chronic wound healing, hemostasis, and wound infection control. A critical step for this therapeutic approach is platelet activation, typically performed using bovine thrombin (BT) and calcium chloride. However, exposure of humans to BT can stimulate antibody formation, potentially resulting in severe hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. Electric pulse stimulation using nanosecond PEFs (pulse electric fields) is an alternative, nonbiochemical platelet activation method, thereby avoiding exposure to xenogeneic thrombin and associated risks.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we identified specific requirements for a clinically relevant activator instrument by dynamically measuring current, voltage, and electric impedance for platelet-rich plasma samples. From these samples, we investigated the profile of growth factors released from human platelets with electric pulse stimulation versus BT, specifically platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor β, and epidermal growth factor, using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electric pulse stimulation triggers growth factor release from platelet α-granules at the same or higher level compared with BT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electric pulse stimulation is a fast, inexpensive, easy-to-use platelet activation method for autologous platelet gel therapy.
authors.affiliation: From the GE Global Research Center (A.S.T., A.C., S.K., N.L., K.C., V.B.N), Niskayuna, New York; School of Nuclear Engineering (A.L.G.), Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; and Boston Children's Hospital (A.D.M., A.L.F.), Center for Platelet Research Studies, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caiafa
authors.forename: Allen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klopman
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: LaPlante
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Michelson
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Frelinger
authors.forename: V Bogdan
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Neculaes
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000502:physiology; D013917:Thrombin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D013917:Thrombin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta