Soft tissue fillers for adipose tissue regeneration: From hydrogel development toward clinical applications

I Van Nieuwenhove; L Tytgat; M Ryx; P Blondeel; F Stillaert; H Thienpont; H Ottevaere; P Dubruel; S Van Vlierberghe

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2017.09.026

Soft tissue fillers for adipose tissue regeneration: From hydrogel development toward clinical applications

Acta Biomater. 2017 Nov:63:37-49. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.09.026. Epub 2017 Sep 20.

Authors

I Van Nieuwenhove¹, L Tytgat², M Ryx³, P Blondeel³, F Stillaert³, H Thienpont⁴, H Ottevaere⁴, P Dubruel⁵, S Van Vlierberghe⁶

Affiliations

¹ Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group (PBM), Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, S4-Bis Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
² Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group (PBM), Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, S4-Bis Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Brussels Photonics (B-PHOT), Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
³ Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
⁴ Brussels Photonics (B-PHOT), Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Flanders Make, Oude Diestersebaan 133, 3920 Lommel, Belgium.
⁵ Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group (PBM), Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, S4-Bis Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: peter.dubruel@ugent.be.
⁶ Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Group (PBM), Centre of Macromolecular Chemistry, Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, S4-Bis Krijgslaan 281, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Brussels Photonics (B-PHOT), Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Flanders Make, Oude Diestersebaan 133, 3920 Lommel, Belgium. Electronic address: sandra.vanvlierberghe@ugent.be.

PMID: 28941654
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.09.026

Abstract

There is a clear and urgent clinical need to develop soft tissue fillers that outperform the materials currently used for adipose tissue reconstruction. Recently, extensive research has been performed within this field of adipose tissue engineering as the commercially available products and the currently existing techniques are concomitant with several disadvantages. Commercial products are highly expensive and associated with an imposing need for repeated injections. Lipofilling or free fat transfer has an unpredictable outcome with respect to cell survival and potential resorption of the fat grafts. Therefore, researchers are predominantly investigating two challenging adipose tissue engineering strategies: in situ injectable materials and porous 3D printed scaffolds. The present work provides an overview of current research encompassing synthetic, biopolymer-based and extracellular matrix-derived materials with a clear focus on emerging fabrication technologies and developments realized throughout the last decade. Moreover, clinical relevance of the most promising materials will be discussed, together with potential concerns associated with their application in the clinic.

Keywords: 3D scaffolds; Adipose tissue regeneration; Hydrogels; Injectable; Lipofilling.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue / physiology*
Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
Humans
Hydrogels / pharmacology*
Regeneration / drug effects*
Tissue Engineering
Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

Biocompatible Materials
Hydrogels