Mechanical Behaviour and Tensile Strength of the Autologous Platelet Gel (APG) Membranes Activated by Autologous Thrombin and Calcium Chloride.

Objectives: The autologous platelet concentrates has been proposed to improve the healing of the soft and hard tissues with several applications in medicine and dentistry. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate in vitro in a standardized environment the mechanical behaviour of autologous platelet gel (APG) membranes activated by autologous thrombin and calcium chloride.
Methods: A total of 20 APG membranes were used in the present experiment: 10 samples activated by autologous thrombin and calcium chloride (Group I) and 10 specimens were not activated (Group II). The tensile resistance and the elasticity modulus (Young) were measured through a universal static loading test (Lloyd 30 K, Lloyd Instruments Ltd., Segensworth, UK).
Results: Group I (activated) showed a tensile strength of 373.5 ± 14.3 MPa and the Group II reported a significant lower mean of 360.5 ± 16.3 MPa (p<0.05). The Young’s modulus was 145.3 ± 10.4 MPa for Group I and 140.3 ± 15.3 MPa for Group II (p>0.05).
Conclusions: The results of the present in vitro mechanical investigation showed that the APG is provided by useful mechanical proprieties and the activation with autologous thrombin and calcium chloride seems to produce no influence in mechanical proprieties.