Platelet-Rich Plasma Lysate for Treatment of Eye Surface Diseases

Summary

Platelet lysates represent an emerging tool for the treatment of ocular surface diseases. Here, we propose a method for the preparation, dispensation, storage, and characterization of platelet lysate collected from platelet donors.

Abstract

Various ocular surface diseases are treated with blood-derived eye drops. Their use has been introduced in clinical practice because of their metabolite and growth factor content, which promotes eye surface regeneration. Blood-based eye drops can be prepared from different sources (i.e., whole blood or platelet apheresis donation), as well as with different protocols (e.g., different dilutions and freeze/thaw cycles). This variability hampers the standardization of clinical protocols and, consequently, the evaluation of their clinical efficacy. Detailing and sharing the methodological procedures may contribute to defining common guidelines. Over the last years, allogenic products have been diffusing as an alternative to the autologous treatments since they guarantee higher efficacy standards; among them, the platelet-rich plasma lysate (PRP-L) eye drops are prepared with simple manufacturing procedures. In the transfusion medicine unit at AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Italy, PRP-L is obtained from platelet-apheresis donation. This product is initially diluted to 0.3 x 10⁹ platelets/mL (starting from an average concentration of 1 x 10⁹ platelets/mL) in 0.9% NaCl. Diluted platelets are frozen/thawed and, subsequently, centrifuged to eliminate debris. The final volume is split into 1.45 mL aliquots and stored at −80 °C. Before being dispensed to patients, eye drops are tested for sterility. Patients may store platelet lysates at −15 °C for up to 1 month. The growth factor composition is also assessed from randomly selected aliquots, and the mean values are reported here.

Introduction

Blood-derived products are widely used in wound care¹, maxillofacial and orthopedic surgery, and for the treatment of different ocular surface diseases² such as dry eye disease (DED)³. In DED, the tear film homeostasis is impaired as a consequence of the abnormal functioning of different factors involved in tear production and ocular surface integrity^4,5.

DED is characterized by heterogeneity in causes and severity^6,7,

Protocol

PRP-L used for the quantitative assessment of growth factors were collected within a wider study on the characterization of PRP products for regenerative purposes, carried out at the AUSL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia and approved by the Area Vasta Emilia Nord Ethical Committee on 10 January, 2019 (protocol number 2019/0003319). Donors gave their informed consent as per the Declaration of Helsinki. No ethical approval was necessary for collecting the aggregated, anonymous data of the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, which is routinely used by clinicians to monitor dry eye syndrome symptoms. Figure 1A shows an outline of the pro....

Results

The rationale for the use of serum-derived eye drops (which is the blood-based product most frequently used for the treatment of eye surface diseases) lies in their content of GFs, which are almost completely derived from circulating platelets. PRP contains a significantly higher number of platelets (and, consequently, of platelet-derived GFs) compared to peripheral blood serum, ranging between 0.15 x 10⁹-0.45 x 10⁹ PLTs/mL. According to Italian laws, the platelet count in PRP units should be at lea.......

Discussion

In recent years, the clinical use of platelet-based products for ocular surface pathologies has increased, but their diffusion is hampered by the lack of scientific robustness. This is mainly caused by wide heterogeneity in donor sources and preparation protocols, which are often not fully disclosed or not specifically designed for the purpose for which they are dispensed. Particularly, information about platelet-based products collected by apheresis is still lacking. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to describ.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Equipments
CompoSeal Mobilea II	Fresenius Kabi, Germany		bag sealer
HeraSafe hood	Heraeus Instruments, Germany		Class II biohazard hood
MCS+ 9000 Mobile Platelet Collection System	Haemonetics, Italy		automated plasma and multicomponent collection equipment for donating platelet, red cell, plasma, or combination blood components
Platelet shaker, PF396i	Helmer, USA		Platelet shaker
Raycell X-ray Blood Irradiator	MDS Nordion, Canada		X-ray Blood Irradiator
ROTIXA 50RS	Hettich Zentrifugen, Germany		High speed entrifuge
Sysmex XS-1000i	Sysmex Europe GMBH, Germany		haemocytometer for platelet count
Warm bath, WB-M15	Falc Instruments, Italy		Warm bath
Materials
ACD-A anticoagulant solution A	Fenwal Inc., USA	DIN 00788139	anticoagulant solution for platelet apheresis (1000 ml)
BD BACTEC Peds Plus/F Culture vials	BD Biosciences, USA	BD 442020	Sterility assay
BD BACTEC Peds Plus/F Culture vials	BD Biosciences, USA	442020	At least 2 vials for sterility assay
BD Luer Lok Syringe	BD Plastipack, USA	300865	At least 4 sterile syringes (50 ml)
Bio-Plex Human Cancer Panel 1	BioRad Laboratories, USA	171AC500M	Standard panel for PDGF isoforms assessment
Bio-Plex Human Cancer Panel 2	BioRad Laboratories, USA	171AC600M	Standard panel for EGF assessment
Bio-Plex MAGPIX Multiplex Reader	BioRad Laboratories, USA	Magpix	This instrument allows multiple immunoassays using functionalized magnetic beads.
Bio-Plex Pro TGF-b Assay	BioRad Laboratories, USA	10024984	Set and standards for TGFb isoforms assessment
BioRet	ARIES s.r.l., Italy	A2DH0020	At least 4 piercing spike for blood bags
Blood collection tube	BD Vacutainer, USA	367835	1 tube, necessary to perform platelet counts
Eye drops kit. COL Medical Device for the application and preservation of eye drops from haemocomponents	Biomed Device s.r.l., Italy	COLC50	Eye drops kit. At least 2 kits for each PRP unit collected
Human Cancer PDGF-AB/BB Set 1x96well	BioRad Laboratories, USA	171BC511	Set for PDGF isoforms assessment
Human Cancer2 EGF Set 1x96well	BioRad Laboratories, USA	171BC603M	Set for EGF assessment
NaCl 0.9% sterile solution	Baxter S.p.A., Italy	B05BB01	1000 ml
OSDI Questionnaire	Allergan Inc., USA	OSDI	Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire
Piercing spike	BioRet ARIES s.r.l., Italy	BS051004	Spike
Platelet Additive Solution A+ T-PAS+	TERUMO BCT Inc., Italy	40842	preservative solution for platelet concentrates (1000 ml)
Software Excel	Microsoft, USA	Excel	Data analysis software
Teruflex Transfer bag 1000 ml	TERUMO BCT Inc., Italy	BB*T100BM	1 for PRP dilution
Teruflex Transfer bag 300 ml	TERUMO BCT Inc., Italy	BB*030CM	At least 6 for each PRP unit collected