Development of a human adipocyte synthetic polymer scaffold

Because of the need for methods for successful transplantation of autologous fat, the differentiation of human preadipocytes on surgical mesh coated with various extracellular matrix components was investigated. Biopsy specimens of human adipose tissue were collected from seven different patients and were subjected to collagenase digestion and selective filtration, resulting in primary cultures of human preadipocytes. Fluortex monofilament-expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (52-/xm pore size) was as a template for coating with either human collagen, albumin, or fibronectin, followed by sodding with established cultures of human preadipocytes. Sodding efficiency on the different matrices was determined by trypsinization of attached cells at different time periods. Preadipocytes did not attach to uncoated polytetrafluoroethylene, but did attach to protein-coated mesh, and in a variable manner. Fibronectin-coating resulted in the highest efficiency of sodding, with differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes as assessed by scanning electron -microscopy and conventional Oil Red O staining. Similar results were achieved by using rat (n = 6) perirenal adipose tissue. This new method of adipocyte scaffolding may be used for improving soft-tissue augmentation and serving as a delivery system for growth factors important in wound healing.