Understanding the Science Behind Lipogems® Technology
Francesca Bianchi, Margherita Maioli, Erika Leonardi, Elena Olivi, Gianandrea Pasquinelli, Sabrina Valente, Armando J. Mendez, Camillo Ricordi, Mirco Raffaini, Carlo Tremolada, Carlo Ventura · Cell Transplantation · 2013
Researchers Develop Enzyme-Free Method to Process Fat Tissue
This groundbreaking study introduced the Lipogems® system, a new way to process fat tissue from your own body. Traditional methods use enzymes (chemicals that break down tissue) to extract healing cells from fat. The Lipogems® approach instead uses gentle mechanical forces to preserve the natural structure of fat tissue. This keeps the healing cells in their original environment, which may help them work better.
The researchers wanted to solve several problems with existing methods. Frozen fat tissue often loses its healing cells. Expanding cells in a laboratory is difficult. And heavily processed cells face strict regulations that slow down their use in patients. Lipogems® addresses these challenges by minimally processing the tissue in a closed, sterile system.
Fat Tissue Contains Powerful Healing Cells
Your fat tissue is far more than just storage for energy. It contains special cells called pericytes and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Pericytes wrap around tiny blood vessels and help with healing. MSCs can develop into different tissue types, including bone, cartilage, and fat cells.
The study found that fat tissue contains about two percent healing cells. This is much higher than bone marrow, where only one in 25,000 to 100,000 cells are MSCs. Fat tissue is also easier to collect through a simple liposuction procedure.
Lipogems® Preserves Natural Tissue Architecture
When researchers examined the processed Lipogems® product under a microscope, they found something important. The tissue retained its natural structure, with tiny blood vessels nestled between fat cells. This preserved architecture included abundant pericytes and MSCs still connected to blood vessel walls.
In contrast, standard lipoaspirate (unprocessed fat from liposuction) showed more disrupted tissue. The gentle mechanical processing of Lipogems® maintained what researchers call the "stromal vascular tissue." This network of support cells and blood vessels appears crucial for healing.
Processed Fat Survives Freezing Better Than Standard Fat
One major advantage emerged when researchers froze and thawed the tissue. Standard lipoaspirate lost many of its healing cells after cryopreservation (freezing for storage). The Lipogems® product, however, retained its beneficial characteristics even after being frozen.
This finding has practical implications for patients. Doctors could potentially store processed tissue for future treatments. The study also tested tissue from cadavers (deceased donors), finding similar preserved characteristics. This opens possibilities for "off-the-shelf" tissue products in the future.
Cells Show Strong Regenerative Potential
The researchers tested cells from the Lipogems® product in laboratory conditions. These cells displayed classic stem cell behaviors:
They could become bone-forming cells (osteogenic)
They could become cartilage cells (chondrogenic)
They could become fat cells (adipogenic)
When treated with natural molecules that promote blood vessel growth, Lipogems®-derived cells showed enhanced activity of genes involved in forming new blood vessels. This response was stronger than cells obtained through enzyme-based methods.
What This Means for Your Treatment Options
This laboratory study established the scientific foundation for Lipogems® technology. The research demonstrated that gentle mechanical processing can preserve the natural healing environment within fat tissue. Key benefits include:
No enzymes or chemical additives required
Closed system reduces contamination risk
Tissue survives freezing better than standard methods
Rich in pericytes and MSCs that support healing
Because this processing method is considered "minimal manipulation," it faces fewer regulatory hurdles than heavily processed cell products. This has helped make Lipogems® available to patients more quickly than treatments requiring extensive laboratory expansion.
If you are considering regenerative treatment, this research shows that your own fat tissue contains abundant healing cells. The Lipogems® system offers a way to harvest and use these cells while keeping them in their natural, supportive environment.
Source: Bianchi et al., Cell Transplantation, 2013.
Original Publication
A New Nonenzymatic Method and Device to Obtain a Fat Tissue Derivative Highly Enriched in Pericyte-Like Elements by Mild Mechanical Forces From Human Lipoaspirates
Francesca Bianchi, Margherita Maioli, Erika Leonardi, Elena Olivi, Gianandrea Pasquinelli, Sabrina Valente, Armando J. Mendez, Camillo Ricordi, Mirco Raffaini, Carlo Tremolada, Carlo Ventura · Cell Transplantation · 2013
This study presents an innovative nonenzymatic method and device called Lipogems for obtaining a fat tissue derivative highly enriched in pericyte-like elements and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from lipoaspirates. The system uses mild mechanical forces in a completely closed system, avoiding enzymes, additives, and other manipulations, thus addressing limitations of current methods including poor cell survival in cryopreserved lipoaspirates and complex Good Manufacturing Practice requirements. The Lipogems product demonstrated remarkably preserved vascular stroma with capillaries and stromal channels, containing abundant cells with pericyte/hMSC identity. Flow cytometry revealed significantly higher percentages of mature pericytes and hMSCs, and lower hematopoietic elements compared to enzymatically digested lipoaspirates. Unlike conventional lipoaspirates, the Lipogems product retained its distinctive characteristics after cryopreservation and when obtained from cadavers, enabling off-the-shelf applications. When cultured, the Lipogems product yielded homogeneous adipose tissue-derived hMSC populations exhibiting classical commitment to osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic lineages. Lipogems-derived hMSCs showed enhanced transcription of vasculogenic genes when exposed to provasculogenic molecules, demonstrating superior performance compared to hMSCs from enzymatically digested lipoaspirates. This minimally manipulated, ready-to-use fat product offers significant potential for reconstructive procedures and regenerative medicine applications.