Adipose tissue engineering

Abstract Adipose tissue is one of the most abundant tissues of the human body, but its in vitro and in vivo regeneration still represent substantial challenges. Both primary cells and cell lines have been employed for in vitro adipose tissues, using either spheroids or synthetic and natural polymers scaffolds. In the current surgical operations, the implantations of autologous adipose tissue are now widely performed. But the fat grafts are usually associated with long-term problems of necrosis-induced volume loss. In this chapter the cell sources and the current methods performed for adipose tissues models as well as their clinical applications will be discussed. This will shed light to better understand the possible improvements to make by adding, for instance, other types of adipose cells or the surrounding tissues. Finally, new insight will be provided such as in vitro reconstruction of the different kinds of adipose tissues.