Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92612, USA.
Department of Chemistry, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA, 90041, USA.
Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 27;10(1):20745. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76678-y.
Body contouring achieved via subcutaneous adipose tissue reduction has notably advanced over the past century, from suction assisted lipectomy to techniques with reduced degrees of invasiveness including laser, radiofrequency, high frequency focused ultrasound, cryolipolysis, and drug-based injection approaches. These costly techniques have focused on damaging adipocyte cell membranes, hydrolyzing triglycerides (TGs), or inducing apoptosis. Here, we present a simple, low-cost technique, termed electrochemical lipolysis (ECLL). During ECLL, saline is injected into the subcutaneous adipose tissue, followed by insertion of needle electrodes and application of an electrical potential. Electrolysis of saline creates localized pH gradients that drive adipocyte death and saponification of TGs. Using pH mapping, various optical imaging techniques, and biochemical assays, we demonstrate the ability of ECLL to induce acid and base injury, cell death, and the saponification of triglycerides in ex vivo porcine adipose tissue. We define ECLL's potential role as a minimally-invasive, ultra-low-cost technology for reducing and contouring adipose tissue, and present ECLL as a potential new application of an emerging electrochemical redox based treatment modality.
过去一个世纪以来，通过减少皮下脂肪组织来进行身体塑形已经取得了显著进展，从吸脂术到侵入性更小的技术，包括激光、射频、高频聚焦超声、冷冻溶脂和基于药物的注射方法。这些昂贵的技术都集中在破坏脂肪细胞的细胞膜、水解甘油三酯（TGs）或诱导细胞凋亡上。在这里，我们提出了一种简单、低成本的技术，称为电化学脂肪分解（ECLL）。在 ECLL 过程中，将生理盐水注入皮下脂肪组织，然后插入电极针并施加电势。生理盐水的电解会产生局部 pH 梯度，从而导致脂肪细胞死亡和甘油三酯的皂化。通过 pH 映射、各种光学成像技术和生化分析，我们证明了 ECLL 能够在离体猪脂肪组织中诱导酸和碱损伤、细胞死亡以及甘油三酯的皂化。我们将 ECLL 的潜在作用定义为一种微创、超低成本的减少和塑形脂肪组织的技术，并提出 ECLL 是一种新兴电化学氧化还原治疗模式的潜在新应用。
