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Cryopreserved Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue for Fat Graft

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery volume 39, pages 800–817 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Cryopreservation of subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT) avoids multiple surgeries in patients subjected to reconstructive procedure. Fat grafts were performed subcutaneously on 26 mice treated with fresh (13 mice) or cryopreserved (13 mice) human sWAT. Cytofluorometry for CD marker expression of stem cells, differentiation capability, and in vivo survival of fat grafts were evaluated. In vitro analysis evidenced that cryopreservation did not affect the stem potential of samples. In vivo MRI showed that grafts were well preserved in 13 mice treated with fresh sWAT, whereas in 13 animals treated with thawed fat, graft volumes were strongly reduced after 1 week. Ultrastructural studies performed both on fresh and thawed specimens demonstrated that grafts performed with thawed sWAT are able to store lipids more slowly with respect to grafts performed with fresh sWAT and adipocytes maintained a multilocular appearance. Collected data demonstrated that the protocol of cryopreservation could maintain the regenerative capability of the sWAT, but the rate of reabsorption after fat grafting is higher using cryopreserved sWAT. Maintaining the stem potential of sWAT after cryopreservation is a very important aspect for reconstructive and regenerative medicine. The employment of cryopreserved sWAT represents an interesting goal for surgeons. Surely there is the necessity to improve the protocol of cryopreservation.

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Abbreviations

CPA:

Cryoprotective agent

DMEM:

Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium

FBS:

Fetal bovine serum

1H-MRS:

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MRS:

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

MSCs:

Mesenchymal stem cells

PBS:

Phosphate buffer solution

PLA:

Purified lipoaspirate

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

SVF:

Stromal vascular fraction

sWAT:

Subcutaneous adipose tissue

TEM:

Transmission electron microscopy

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Author notes

    Affiliations

    1. Anatomy and Histology Section, Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 8, 37134, Verona, Italy

      Giamaica Conti, Donatella Benati, Paolo Bernardi, Elisa Mosconi & Andrea Sbarbati

    2. The Cell Factory N.V., Galileïlaan 19, 2845, Niel, Belgium

      Marcin Jurga, Marjike Buvé & Kelly Van Wemmel

    3. Cryo-Save N.V., Galileïlaan 19, 2845, Niel, Belgium

      Marcin Jurga

    4. San Clemente Clinic, Viale Pompilio 65, 46100, Mantua, Italy

      Gino Rigotti

    Authors
    1. Giamaica Conti
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    2. Marcin Jurga
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    3. Donatella Benati
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    4. Paolo Bernardi
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    5. Elisa Mosconi
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    6. Gino Rigotti
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    7. Marjike Buvé
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    8. Kelly Van Wemmel
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    9. Andrea Sbarbati
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to Giamaica Conti.

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    Conflict of interest

    All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in the manuscript drafting. Marcin Jurga, Kelly Van Wemmel, and Marijke Buvé have been employed by the Cryo-Save Company offering cryopreservation of stem cells and tissues for autologous use.

    Additional information

    Giamaica Conti and Marcin Jurga have contributed equally to this work.

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    Conti, G., Jurga, M., Benati, D. et al. Cryopreserved Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue for Fat Graft. Aesth Plast Surg 39, 800–817 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-015-0538-0

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-015-0538-0

    Keywords

    • Fat graft
    • Lipofilling
    • Cryopreservation agent
    • Cryoprotective agent