Regenerative Potential of Autologously Processed White Adipose Tissue for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: Evaluation...

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) present a major clinical and socioeconomic challenge due to limited regenerative capacity. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) within the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of white adipose tissue offer a promising autologous source for regenerative support. This study evaluated the impact of mechanical processing CELT (Cell-Enriched Lipotransfer) and CELT^PLUS and electrical stimulation on the regenerative secretome of human lipoaspirates. qPCR analysis revealed that CELT^PLUS processing, which incorporates mechanical intersyringe shifting, significantly doubled the gene expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) (p = 0.015), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (p = 0.02), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (p = 0.04) compared to CELT-processed lipoaspirate. Protein analysis via ELISA confirmed a time-dependent secretion of NGF and VEGF over 96 h. Furthermore, 24 h electrical stimulation (2 V) significantly enhanced NGF protein release (p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate that standardized mechanical processing effectively enriches regenerative cell populations and amplifies their neurogenic and angiogenic potential. The additional modulation of growth factor secretion via electrical stimulation highlights the potential of processed adipose tissue as a functional, autologous transplant for enhanced nerve reconstruction.