Adipose tissue engineering using adipose‐derived stem cells enclosed within an injectable carboxymethylcellulose‐based hydrogel

In situ gelation of an aqueous solution of carboxymethylcellulose derivative bearing phenolic hydroxyl groups (CMC‐Ph) that contained suspended adipose‐derived stem cells (ASCs) was studied in vitro and in vivo for evaluating feasibility in adipose tissue‐engineering strategies. The rat ASCs that were enclosed in the CMC‐Ph gels through a horseradish peroxidase‐catalysed reaction showed 92.8% viability, good proliferation and adipogenic differentiation in vitro. Ten weeks after the subcutaneous injection of ASCs‐suspending CMC‐Ph for in situ gelation, clearly visible new vascularized adipose tissue formed at the injection site. The number of blood vessels and the area occupied by adipose tissues were five and eight times larger, respectively, than those found in the implanted acellular gel. The adipogenesis and neovascularization were further enhanced by incorporation of fibroblast growth factor into the CMC‐Ph gel containing ASCs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.