Comparison of Adipocyte Viability After Short-Term Cryopreservation of Adipose Aspirates Through 3 Different Techniques

BACKGROUND: Effective cryopreservation allows for the long-term storage of living cells or tissues with the possibility of later clinical applications. Unfortunately, no successful investigations on the long-term preservation of adipose aspirates for prospective autologous fat grafting have been conducted. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to compare 3 different freezing methods to preserve adipose aspirates obtained from conventional lipoplasty to determine the optimal cryopreservation technique. METHODS: To determine the optimal cryopreservation technique, hematoxylin and eosin staining, MTS assay, and Annexin assay were performed on each of the 3 groups plus a fourth control group. Group 1 served as the control, and fat tissue was analyzed immediately after adipose harvesting with no cryopreservation. For experimental Group 2, 15 mL of adipose aspirates were directly frozen at −80°C for up to 2 weeks. For experimental Group 3, 15 mL of adipose aspirates were frozen inside the adi-frosty containing 100% isopropanol and stored at −80°C for up to 2 weeks. For experimental Group 4, 15 mL of adipose aspirates were frozen with freezing solution containing 90% fetal bovine serum (v/v) and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (v/v). RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the experimental Group 3 had significantly more live adipocytes and greater cellular function of adipose aspirates than the experimental Groups 2 and 4. CONCLUSION: Cryopreservation with adi-frosty containing 100% isopropanol appears to be the best means of cryopreservation of fat. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3: [Image: see text]