Xenogen-free isolation and culture of human adipose mesenchymal stem cells

Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ASCs) present great potential for reconstructive procedures. Currently, isolation by enzyme digestion and culturing using xenogenic substances remain the gold standard, impairing clinical use. Abdominal lipo-aspirate and blood samples were obtained from healthy patients. A novel mechanical isolation method for ASCs was compared to (the standard) collagenase digestion. ASCs are examined by flowcytometry and multilineage differentiation assays. Cell cultures were performed without xenogenic or toxic substances, using autologous plasma extracted from peripheral blood. After eGFP-transfection, an in vivo differentiation assay was performed. Mechanical isolation is more successful in isolating CD34+/CD31−/CD45−/CD13+/CD73+/CD146− ASCs from lipo-aspirate than isolation via collagenase digestion (p