Evaluation of utilizing microfat wash liquid as a potential source of mesenchymal stem cells in clinical applications

Objective: To evaluate the quantity and quality of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) present in the wash liquid of the microfat obtained through the Lipogems kit. Subject and method: Samples were collected from three patients undergoing liposuction at the IMAGE Regenerative Clinic (Milan, Italy). The harvested Coleman fat was processed with the Lipogems kit to produce microfat. Three types of samples were collected and analyzed: (i) enzymatically digested Coleman fat, (ii) wash liquid from the Lipogems kit, and (iii) tumescent fluid. Evaluation parameters included total nucleated cell count, MSC count, and MSC quality, assessed by the expression of characteristic surface markers. Result: The microfat wash liquid also contained a substantial number of MSCs, representing approximately 41% of the values obtained from enzymatically digested Coleman fat. It is also worth noting that, on average, the microfat wash liquid exhibited a superior MSC percentage as compared to the conventional enzymatically digested samples. As anticipated, the tumescent solution contained negligible numbers of MSCs, confirming its limited regenerative potential. Conclusion: The wash liquid derived from microfat processed with the Lipogems kit represents a rich and clinically valuable source of high-quality MSCs.