Engineering Adipose Tissue for Regenerative and Reparative Therapies

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

ABSTRACT The correction or augmentation of soft tissue defects caused by trauma, tumor resection, congenital abnormalities, and aging presents a multitude of challenges in reconstructive surgery. Soft tissue defects run the gamut in terms of volume, from restoring the fullness of the face by removing wrinkles to restoring the breast mound after mastectomy. The limitations of current restorative and reparative techniques have served as drivers for the development of adipose tissue as an application area for tissue engineering. Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary and maturing field that combines bioengineering, the clinical sciences, and the life sciences to repair or regrow tissues. This article discusses the inadequacies of current methods of correcting soft tissue defects and the innovative adipose tissue engineering strategies under pursuit to abrogate these limitations and improve patients’ outcomes and quality of life, and speculates rationally on the future. It does not discuss the applications and technologies involved with adipose-derived stem cells unless directly applied toward adipogenesis.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

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