Collagenase-assisted fat dissociation for autologous fat transfer.
BACKGROUND
The quality of fat for autologous transfer procedures has been a major focus of research in the past few years. The primary goal of these efforts is to improve the viability and longevity of the graft in human subjects. One possible factor in the permanence of theses transplants is the size of the adipose tissue grafts.


OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effects of collagenase digestion on the viability of human adipose tissue.


METHODS
Samples of fat were obtained from subjects undergoing tumescent liposuction. The tissue was digested in a variety of concentrations of collagenase using optimized methods of processing. The digested fat was also subjected to mock injections through small bore needles.


RESULTS
Eight subjects completed the study. The viability of the fat using the optimized methods of collagenase digestion was consistently higher than 79%. During the mock injection trials, the viability of fat was improved from approximately 17% to 84% by collagenase digestion.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show increased viability of human adipose tissue when digested by collagenase. These techniques can be applied to human autologous lipoaugmentation procedures in an effort to improve longevity of the transplanted tissue.
Moscatello
David K
DK
Differentiated Cell Laboratory, Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, New Jersey, USA.
Schiavi
Jonathan
J
Marquart
Jason D
JD
Lawrence
Naomi
N
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000637:transplantation*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015187:Lipectomy; D008297:Male; D013820:Thermolysin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014022:Tissue Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D017364:Collagenases; C106635:Liberase; D013820:Thermolysin