Figure 1

Preparation of CS-Platelet: Step 1: aliquots of whole blood (as indicated in Table 1) were collected in tubes containing acid-citrate-dextrose as an anti-coagulant. Step 2: immediately after being drawn, blood was centrifuged (see Table 1) to separate RBCs from platelets and plasma. Step 3: The supernatant composed of platelets and plasma was collected and centrifuged again (see Table 1) in order to pellet the platelets. Step 4 and 5: After this second centrifugation, the platelets were re-suspended in an appropriate volume of autologous plasma to achieve a platelet concentration 8–10 fold above the physiologic levels. (Step 6): CS (powder) was mixed with PRP (liquid) in a ratio of1 g of CS to 240 μl of PRP.