Uncultivated stromal vascular fraction is equivalent to adipose-derived stem and stromal cells on porous polyurethrane scaffolds forming adipose tissue in vivo.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To find an alternative approach to contemporary techniques in tissue augmentation and reconstruction, tissue engineering strategies aim to involve adipose-derived stem and stromal cells (ASCs) harboring a strong differentiation potential into various tissue types such as bone, cartilage, and fat.

STUDY DESIGN: Animal research.

METHODS: The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) was used directly as a cell source to provide a potential alternative to contemporary ASC-based adipose tissue engineering. Seeded in TissuCol fibrin, we applied ASCs or SVF cells to porous, degradable polyurethane (PU) scaffolds.

RESULTS: We successfully demonstrated the in vivo generation of volume-stable, well-vascularized PU-based constructs containing host-derived mature fat pads. Seeded human stem cells served as modulators of host-cell migration rather than differentiating themselves. We further demonstrated that preliminary culture of SVF cells was not necessary.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results bring adipose tissue engineering, together with automated processing devices, closer to clinical applicability. The time-consuming and cost-intensive culture and induction of the ASCs is not necessary.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA. Laryngoscope, 128:E206-E213, 2018.