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Mariusz Ratajczak: Are We Inadvertently Destroying the True Regenerative Power of PRP by Discarding the Plasma?

Mariusz Ratajczak/LinkedIn

Sep 29, 2026, 14:09

Mariusz Ratajczak: Are We Inadvertently Destroying the True Regenerative Power of PRP by Discarding the Plasma?

Mariusz Ratajczak, Editor-in-Chief, Stem Cell Reviews and Reports of Springer Nature, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Are we inadvertently destroying the true regenerative power of PRP by discarding the plasma?

For decades, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy has been viewed through a strictly platelet-centric lens.

We obsess over platelet concentration and growth factor release while systematically treating plasma as a mere passive suspension medium.

In a paradigm-shifting Comment, Ju Tian, Biao Cheng, and their team fundamentally challenge this dogma.

They propose that plasma actively functions as a dynamic, liquid-phase Extracellular Matrix (ECM) that directly governs platelet behavior and therapeutic efficacy.

Rethinking the Mechanics of PRP:

The Liquid Scaffolding:

Plasma fulfills all core ECM functions, utilizing fibrinogen and fibronectin to provide a 3D structural backbone that anchors platelets and presents adhesion molecules.

Beyond Platelet Factors:

Plasma contains its own reservoir of critical non-platelet-derived mediators, such as IGF-1 and HGF, which act synergistically with platelet releasates to promote angiogenesis and matrix deposition.

Preparation Artifacts:

Conventional high-speed centrifugation and protocols that discard “platelet-poor” plasma often deplete or denature these essential ECM elements, rendering the final product biologically incomplete and compromising clinical consistency.

Bidirectional Crosstalk:

Platelets and plasma form a self-reinforcing circuit; activated platelets remodel the ECM, while the physical stiffness and biochemical cues of the plasma matrix modulate platelet activation via YAP/TAZ mechanotransduction and TGF-β signaling.

By reframing plasma as an active biological matrix rather than a simple carrier, we can optimize preparation protocols and transition PRP from an empirical therapy into precision regenerative medicine.

Is it time to completely overhaul our standardized commercial PRP isolation kits to preserve the plasma ECM?”

Mariusz Ratajczak