Materials and methods
Experimental procedure
AuNPs nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized by different methods such as DLS, TEM, and ICP-MS as previously described [10]. We then collected blood samples from volunteers to prepare A-PRF+. In the next step, A-PRF+ was enriched with AuNPs. The potency of CM from A-PRF+ and AuNPs + A-PRF+ was evaluated on hMSCs to measure osteogenic potential after 7 days. By measuring ALP content and Alizarin Red S staining we monitored the osteogenic capacity of hMSCs after 7 days treated with A-PRF + AuNPs CM (for more details please refer to Additional file 1 and “Materials and methods” section). All procedure of this study was proved by the Ethics Committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (IR.TBZMED.REC.1398.203).
Results and discussion
Synthesis and characterization of AuNPs
Data from TEM analysis revealed spherical particles with diameters 53 ± 2 nm (Fig. 1a). DLS analysis is commonly used to describe the range of nanoparticle size distribution and zeta potential. The polydispersity index, AuNPs diameter, and surface potential were 0.595, 74.7 nm and − 19.5 ± 9.06 mV, respectively (Fig. 1b–c). ICP technique was used to calculate the AuNPs concentration prior to serial dilution preparation. ICP showed an index of 220 mM.
A-PRF+ and physical properties
In the current experiment, we found clots with yellow color and with semisolid stiffness (Fig. 2a). Based on our data, each blood sample (8 mL) yielded 1.5 to 2 mL A-PRF+.
Histological examination revealed AuNPs trapped by fibrin strands
H&E staining showed the existence of AuNPs in fibrin clot from AuNP-A-PRF+, showing the efficiency of our protocol. Bright-field microscopy showed small-sized dense particles trapped between fibrin strands compared to the A-PRF+ alone (Fig. 2b).
Characterization of A-PRF+ conditioned medium
Data from ICP-MS indicated that the concentration of AuNPs in the conditioned medium was 330 ppb.
AuNPs decreased the survival rate of hMSCs in a dose-dependent manner
The hMSCs survival rate was calculated after exposure to different concentrations of AuNPs by using MTT assay. Treatment of cells with doses of 0.125 mM and 0.005 mM AuNPs yielded cell viability near to the control levels (Fig. 2c). By exposing hMSCs to AuNPs more than 0.0125 mM, the cell survival rate was decreased a reached minimum levels when cells treated with 0.5 mM AuNPs (Fig. 2c). A reduction of more than 50% was evident in hMSCs from the 0.5 mM AuNPs group. These results demonstrated that AuNPs could modulate the hMSCs viability in a dose-dependent manner. We selected 0.0125 mM for subsequent analyses. In line with our results, Zhang et al. [8] used a very low concentration of AuNPs including 0.1, 1, and 10 μM without cytotoxic effect on PDL progenitor cells. It seems that the application of AuNPs higher concentrations for a short-term period has no detrimental effects on the specific cell type. For instance, Li et al. [11] reported no cytotoxic effect at higher concentrations 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mM in hMSCs 3-day incubation.
Enrichment of A-PRF+ clot with AuNPs increased hMSCs viability
The combination of AuNPs with A-PRF+ gel was found to increased cell viability rate in a paracrine manner compared to the non-treated control group (p < 0.05; Fig. 2d). A non-significant difference was found in the cell survival rate between the control and hMSCs exposed to A-PRF+-derived CM (p > 0.05). It seems that the addition of AuNPs to A-PRF clot had the potential to significantly increase hMSCs viability (p < 0.05; Fig. 2d). It seems that the enrichment of APRF+ with AuNPs could accelerate the osteogenic potential of hMSCs in a paracrine manner compared to APRF+ alone. Therefore, it seems that the addition of AuNPs may relate to the efficient release of APRF+ growth factors and/or stability of the growth factor.
AuNPs plus A-PRF could accelerate osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs
The osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs was evaluated using ARS staining and ALP activity (Fig. 3a, b) [12]. Measurement of supernatant ALP in CM showed the ability of hMSCs to release this enzyme following 7-day incubation with AuNPs and A-PRF+ mixture (Fig. 3a). Based on the results, the mean concentration of ALP in the supernatant media from the control, A-PRF+ and AuNP-A-PRF+ groups were 5.3 U/L, 5.7 U/L, and 9.7 U/L, respectively. We found statistically significant difference in released ALP content of the AuNP-A-PRF+ group compared to the control and A-PRF+ alone \(\left( {p_{{{\text{Control}}\;{\text{vs}}.\;{\text{AuNP-A-PRF}}^{ + } }} < 0.001;\;p_{{{\text{A-PRF}}^{ + } \;{\text{vs}} .\;{\text{AuNP-A-PRF}}^{ + } }} \, < \,0.001} \right)\) (Fig. 3a). These data stand for a fact that the conjugation of AuNPs with A-PRF+ could enhance osteogenic differentiation by the induction of ALP [13].
By using ARS staining, the existence of extracellular matrix (hydroxylapatite crystals) was evaluated in the control, A-PRF+ and AuNP-A-PRF+ groups after 7 days (Fig. 3b). Based on microscopic bright field imaging, no calcium precipitation was observed in the control and A-PRF+ groups (Fig. 3b). The exposure of hMSCs to CM from AuNP-A-PRF+ was found to induce the formation and deposition of red color extracellular matrix indicated with red-colored matrix at the periphery of cells [14, 15].
Microphotographs showed that cells tended to acquire a spindle shape appearance rather than round shape (in the control group) after exposure to secretome from A-PRF+ clots with and without AuNPs, showing the inherent activity of A-PRF+ to increase cell adherence. Therefore, the exposure of hMSCs to CM from AuNPs + A-PRF+ could trigger the osteogenic capacity of hMSCs evident with ALP induction and hydroxyapatite deposition. In contrast, Dohan et al. [16] showed that PRF per se had a positive and dose-dependent effect on the osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs. Nugraha and co-workers [17] concluded that PRF had the potential to induce the expression of bone ALP and osteocalcin in gingival MSCs. The differences between our results and previous data could be correlated with the incubation time period and type of cells. Li et al. [11] claimed that spherical nanoparticles with a diameter of 40 and 70 nm, especially 70-nm size rod-shaped particles significantly enhanced the genes expression osteogenic lineage.
Cell survival analysis showed that concentrations higher than 0.0125 mM AuNPs could contribute to hMSCs toxicity during the 7-day incubation period. In line with our results, Zhang et al. [8] used a very low concentration of AuNPs including 0.1, 1, and 10 μM without cytotoxic effect on PDL progenitor cells. It seems that the application of AuNPs higher concentrations for a short-term period has no detrimental effects on the specific cell type. For instance, Li et al. [11] reported no cytotoxic effect at higher concentrations 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mM in hMSCs 3-day incubation. According to the present study, enrichment of APRF+ clots with 0.0125 AuNPs promoted hMSCs survival. One could hypothesize that the combination of AuNPs with APRF+ could accelerate hMSCs in a paracrine manner compared to APRF+ alone. Therefore, it seems that the addition of AuNPs may relate to the efficient release of APRF+ growth factors and/or stability of the growth factor. It should not be forgotten that the application of 0.01 25 mM AuNPs alone could promote hMSCs proliferation and survival. We also applied the ICP-MS test to confirm the release of AuNPs after addition to APRF+ clots. This assay confirmed the successful release of AuNPs to the culture supernatant and found to reach 330 ppb. Commensurate with these findings, the current experiment proved the therapeutic paracrine activity of Au-APRF+ to modulate hMSCs survival rate. To analyze osteogenic property of AuNPs-APRF+, we also monitored the content of released ALP after 7-day incubation with AuNPs-APRF+ conditioned medium. The levels of ALP produced by hMSCs exposed A-PRF+-derived CM were significantly higher than that of ALP in the control and A-PRF+ group. Based on our data, AuNPs-free A-PRF+ clot was unable to promote osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. In contrast, Dohan et al. [16] showed that PRF per se had a positive and dose-dependent effect on the osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs. Nugraha and co-workers [17] concluded that PRF had the potential to induce the expression of bone ALP and osteocalcin in gingival MSCs. The differences between our results and previous data could be correlated with the incubation time period and type of cells. Under ARS staining, calcium deposition was also prominently visible in the hMSCs treated with AuNP-A-PRF+ CM. Along with our results, Li et al. [11] claimed that spherical nanoparticles with a diameter of 40 and 70 nm, especially 70-nm size rod-shaped particles significantly enhanced the genes expression osteogenic lineage. Zhang et al. [8] showed that AuNPs with a diameter of 13 and 45 nm induced osteogenic properties in PDL progenitor cells. Interestingly, the study of PRF exudates on PDL cells showed increased proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation rate [18]. These data stand for a fact that the extraction of PRF could also be an alternative modality for the induction of cell differentiation [19, 20]. However, the effect of the fibrinous substrate must not be neglected in favor of stem cell differentiation toward specific lineages.
