Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Stem Cells. Nov 26, 2021; 13(11): 1733-1746
Published online Nov 26, 2021. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i11.1733
Nanofat: A therapeutic paradigm in regenerative medicine
Madhan Jeyaraman, Sathish Muthu, Shilpa Sharma, Charan Ganta, Rajni Ranjan, Saurabh Kumar Jha
Madhan Jeyaraman, Sathish Muthu, Saurabh Kumar Jha, Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Sharda University , Greater Noida 201306, Uttar Pradesh, India
Madhan Jeyaraman, Rajni Ranjan, Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201306, Uttar Pradesh, India
Madhan Jeyaraman, Sathish Muthu, Shilpa Sharma, Charan Ganta, Indian Stem Cell Study Group, Lucknow 226010, Uttar Pradesh, India
Sathish Muthu, Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Dindigul 624001, Tamil Nadu, India
Shilpa Sharma, Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, New Delhi, India
Charan Ganta, Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, United States 10002, United States
Author contributions: Jeyaraman M and Muthu S wrote the paper; Sharma S, Ganta C, Ranjan R, and Jha KS performed the data collection.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Sathish Muthu, MS, Research Fellow, Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida 201306, Uttar Pradesh, India. drsathishmuthu@gmail.com
Received: March 30, 2021
Peer-review started: March 30, 2021
First decision: May 12, 2021
Revised: May 15, 2021
Accepted: October 27, 2021
Article in press: October 27, 2021
Published online: November 26, 2021
Processing time: 239 Days and 22.6 Hours
Abstract

Adipose tissue is a compact and well-organized tissue containing a heterogeneous cellular population of progenitor cells, including mesenchymal stromal cells. Due to its availability and accessibility, adipose tissue is considered a “stem cell depot.” Adipose tissue products possess anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, anti-apoptotic, and immunomodulatory effects. Nanofat, being a compact bundle of stem cells with regenerative and tissue remodeling potential, has potential in translational and regenerative medicine. Considering the wide range of applicability of its reconstructive and regenerative potential, the applications of nanofat can be used in various disciplines. Nanofat behaves on the line of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. At the site of injury, these stromal cells initiate a site-specific reparative response comprised of remodeling of the extracellular matrix, enhanced and sustained angiogenesis, and immune system modulation. These properties of stromal cells provide a platform for the usage of regenerative medicine principles in curbing various diseases. Details about nanofat, including various preparation methods, characterization, delivery methods, evidence on practical applications, and ethical concerns are included in this review. However, appropriate guidelines and preparation protocols for its optimal use in a wide range of clinical applications have yet to be standardized.

Keywords: Adipose tissue; Nanofat; Stem cells; Regenerative medicine; Adipose stem cells

Core Tip: Nanofat, being a compact bundle of stem cells with regenerative and tissue remodeling potential, has greater application in translational and regenerative medicine. Nanofat behaves on the line of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. Considering the reconstructive and regenerative potential, the applications of nanofat can be extrapolated to various medical disciplines such as orthopedics and sports medicine, plastic surgery, and dermatology.