OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of constructing scaffold for tissue engineering with human extracellular matrix from adipose tissue.

METHODSFresh human adipose tissue was obtained by liposuction in 7 women who undergone liposuction. One part of the fat was used to isolate the adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), the other part was used to extract human extracellular matrix powder. After removing blood and oil components, the tissue was homogenized, centrifuged, freeze-dried, and crushed to powder by instrument. The structure of human ECM powder was observed with electron microscopy. The ADSCs were seeded and attached to the human extracellular matrix powder before and after labeled with fluorescent DiI, respectively. The adhesion rate was detected. The adhesion and growth of ADSCs were observed with Fluorescence microscope. The adhesion rate before and after DiI labeling was analyzed statistically with two-sample test of SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSThe ADSCs and human extracellular matrix powder were obtained successfully from adipose tissue. The ADSCs could be differentiated into adipose cells, bone cells and chondrocytes. SEM images showed that the power had both rugged and smooth surface with a porous structure characteristics. ADSCs could adhere to the scaffold easily, and the adhesion rate was (88.81 +/- 4.81)% and (86.48 +/- 4.58)% before and after DiI labeling. There was no difference between two groups. DiI labeled ADSCs were adhered to extracellular matrix scaffold and could grow in good condition.

CONCLUSIONSHuman adipose tissue extracellular matrix powder was easy to obtain, with diversity in size and shape which provided excellent substrates for cell adhesion and growth. It could be an ideal adipose tissue engineering scaffold.