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Updated: Dec 25, 2025
Assessment of Viability of Human Fat Injection into Nude Mice with Micro-Computed Tomography
Published on: January 7, 2015
Comparison of Volume Retention and Biocompatibility of Acellular Dermal Matrix/Hyaluronic Acid Filler to Autologous
Ji Hun Kim1, Sun Eung Kim1, Yu Jin Kim1
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gil Medical Center, College of Medicine, Gachon University, 21, Namdong-daero 774 beon-gil, Namdong-gu, Incheon, 21565, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Although fat grafting has become a widely used technique in aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries, resorption is still a challenge. Micronized acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has been considered as a stable, biocompatible soft tissue coverage material that can be used as a volume filler. Here, we compared the bioacceptance and sustainability of ADM hyaluronic acid (HA) filler with human fat graft in a mouse model.
Methods:
Harvested human fat and ADM/HA filler were injected randomly on the dorsal side of mice. Thirty-two mice were analyzed over a 7-week period with respect to volume, weight and microscopic evaluations with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) staining.
Results:
The volume and weight were maintained at 80% and 83%, respectively, in the ADM/HA filler group and 56.5% and 49.7%, respectively, in the fat-grafted group by the 7th week. There were no significant microscopic differences in inflammatory changes and granulation via H&E staining. At 1 and 2 weeks, EGF and VEGF immunostaining intensity scores were lower in the ADM/HA filler group. At 7 weeks, there were no significant differences in immunostaining intensity scores between the two groups.
Conclusions:
During the 7-week experimental period, the ADM/HA filler showed no foreign body reaction and the proper volume was well maintained. This suggests that the ADM/HA filler can possibly be used in small amounts as an alternative to autologous fat grafts.
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