A Novel Benchtop Device for Efficient and Simple Purification of Cytokines, Growth Factors and Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue

Lipoaspirates represent a source of adult stem cells, cytokines, and growth factors of adipocyte origin with immunomodulation and regenerative medicine potential. However, rapid and simple protocols for their purification using self-contained devices that can be deployed at the points of care are lacking. Here, we characterize and benchmark a straightforward mechanical dissociation procedure to collect mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and soluble fractions from lipoaspirates. IStemRewind, a benchtop self-contained cell purification device, allowed a one-procedure purification of cells and soluble material from lipoaspirates with minimal manipulation. The recovered cellular fraction contained CD73(+), CD90(+), CD105(+), CD10(+) and CD13(+) MSCs. These markers were comparably expressed on MSCs isolated using IstemRewind or classic enzymatic dissociation procedures, apart from CD73(+) MSCs, which were even more abundant in IStemRewind isolates. IstemRewind-purified MSCs retained viability and differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes, even after a freezing-thawing cycle. Levels of IL4, IL10, bFGF and VEGF were higher compared to the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF alpha, IL1 beta and IL6 in the IStemRewind-isolated liquid fraction. In sum, IStemRewind can be useful for straightforward, rapid, and efficient isolation of MSCs and immunomodulatory soluble factors from lipoaspirates, opening the possibility to directly isolate and employ them at the point-of-care.

Automated summary

This study presents a simple mechanical dissociation procedure for collecting mesenchymal stem cells and soluble fractions from lipoaspirates. A self-contained cell purification device called IStemRewind was used for one-step purification of cells and soluble material, offering a potential solution for rapid and efficient isolation of MSCs and immunomodulatory soluble factors.