Experimental study on the influence of different aperture connectors on nanofat

BACKGROUND

Nanofat, as a derivative of adipose tissue, has gradually become a research hotspot in beauty and regenerative medicine. However, the nanofat preparation method has not yet been standardized; it remains unknown whether the aperture of the connector has any influence on the transplantation effect.

METHODS

Adipose tissue was mechanically emulsified into nanofat tissue through different connector apertures (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm). Cell survival and apoptosis were measured using the volume of oil droplets, glucose transportation test, flow cytometry, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing assay, transwell migration assay, and fluorescence staining. The expression of adiponectin, GluT4, and PPAR-γ in nanofat-derived stem cells (NFSCs) was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

The fineness of nanofat tissue texture decreased with an increase in the aperture connector. The amounts of glucose transferred in the three groups (1, 1.5, and 2 mm) were 4.7 ± 0.894, 6.1 ± 1.026, and 6.9 ± 0.868 mmol/L, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the proportion of NFSCs in the 2.0 mm group was the highest (91.267±1.210%). Cell proliferation and migration abilities were stronger in the 1.5 and 2.0 mm groups. The numbers of late apoptotic and dead cells in the 2.0 mm group were significantly fewer than those in the two other groups. Expression levels of lipid-related genes were as follows: adiponectin > GluT4 > PPAR-γ in each component.

CONCLUSIONS

As nanofat is emulsified, the use of larger aperture connectors (2.0 mm) appeared to decrease the degree of adipocyte lysis and increase the biological activity of adipose tissue.

Precise Intradermal Injection of Nanofat-Derived Stromal Cells Combined with Platelet-Rich Fibrin Improves the Efficacy of Facial Skin Rejuvenation

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The rejuvenation properties of nanofat grafting have been described in recent years. However, it is not clear whether the clinical efficacy of the procedure is attributable to stem cells or linked to other components of adipose tissue. In this study we isolated nanofat-derived stem cells (NFSCs) to observe their biological characteristics and evaluate the efficacy of precise intradermal injection of nanofat combined with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in patients undergoing facial rejuvenation treatment.

METHODS

Third-passage NFSCs were isolated and cultured using a mechanical emulsification method and their surface CD markers were analyzed by flow cytometry. The adipogenic and osteogenic nature and chondrogenic differentiation capacity of NFSCs were determined using Oil Red O staining, alizarin red staining, and Alcian blue staining, respectively. Paracrine function of NFSCs was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after establishing the culture. Then, the effects of PRF on NFSC proliferation were assessed in vitro. Finally, we compared the outcome in 103 patients with facial skin aging who underwent both nanofat and intradermal PRF injection (treatment group) and 128 patients who underwent hyaluronic acid (HA) injection treatment (control group). Outcomes in the two groups were compared by assessing pictures taken at the same angle before and after treatment, postoperative recovery, incidence of local absorption and cysts, and skin quality before treatment, and at 1, 12, 24 months after treatment using the VISIA Skin Image Analyzer and a SOFT5.5 skin test instrument.

RESULTS

NFSCs expressed CD29, CD44, CD49d, CD73, CD90, and CD105, but did not express CD34, CD45, and CD106. NFSCs also differentiated into adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondrocytes under appropriate induction conditions. NFSCs released large amounts of growth factors such as VEGF, bFGF, EGF, and others, and growth factor levels increased in a time-dependent manner. At the same time, PRF enhanced proliferation of NFSCs in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, and the growth curves under different concentrations of PRF all showed plateaus 6d after seeding. Facial skin texture was improved to a greater extent after combined injection of nanofat and PRF than after control injection of HA. The nanofat-PRF group had a higher satisfaction rate. Neither treatment caused any complications such as infection, anaphylaxis, or paresthesia during long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSION

NFSCs demonstrate excellent multipotential differentiation and paracrine function, and PRF promotes proliferation of NFSCs during the early stage after seeding. Both nanofat-PRF and HA injection improve facial skin status without serious complications, but the former was associated with greater patient satisfaction, implying that nanofat-PRF injection is a safe, highly effective, and long-lasting method for skin rejuvenation.