Another Blow to Fat Cells for Ortho

Despite a rash of media coverage of the use of a dilute fat stem cell concentrate (nucleated cell centrifuge spin) in dogs, another study was published this week showing that adipose derived stem cells continue to dramatically under perform bone marrow and synovial derived stem cells in chondrogenesis (cartilage production). For a more complete literature review at the National Library of Medicine, click here. While fat derived MSC's appear to be very good at immune suppression, cosmetics, and perhaps nerve repair, for ortho they under perform on bone, tendon, ligament, and cartilage applications. While this is a very attractive business model (have patients undergo liposuction and fix their joints), the research just doesn't stack up. So while the business is Phat, the research is flat.