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NCT Number: NCT07114692

The Effect of Stromal Vascular Fraction Transplantation on the Regeneration of Expanded Skin

This study is a randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the effect of intradermal stromal vascular fraction (SVF) transplantation in treating exhaustion of dermal regenerative capacity during skin expansion. The dermal thickness, texture, and perfusion before and after SVF transplantation would be recorded and analyzed by a series of quantitative devices including laser 3D scanner, ultrasound, VISIA skin analyzer, CK skin analyzer, and indocyanine green angiography.

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Key information

Conditions

Skin Regeneration

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

This study is a randomized controlled trial aimed at evaluating the effect of intradermal stromal vascular fraction (SVF) transplantation in treating exhaustion of dermal regenerative capacity during skin expansion. This study will enroll patients experiencing dermal exhaustion during the process of skin soft tissue expansion. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) transplantation group or the normal saline control group. To confirm eligibility, all potential participants will undergo a baseline screening visit. Those meeting the inclusion criteria will proceed to the study center for enrollment assessment, followed by randomization. Participants in the SVF transplantation group will undergo abdominal liposuction and receive intradermal SVF transplantation. Participants in the control group will receive intradermal injections of an equivalent volume of normal saline. The changes of dermis of expanded skin were recorded before the treatment (baseline), and at 4 weeks and 8 weeks follow-up timepoints after SVF transplantation. More specifically, skin surface area was measured using laser 3D scan; skin thickness and texture were detected by ultrasound, VISIA skin analyzer and CK skin analyzer; skin blood perfusion was analyzed using indocyanine green angiography.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age: over 18 years and under 65 years;
show signs of deterioration of skin texture during expansion, including stretch marks or thinning of the dermis;
Have signed the informed consent form, agree to participate in this study, and are able to comply with follow-up requirements.

Exclusion criteria

Patients with serious underlying diseases such as cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, or impaired liver or kidney function;
Patients with a long history of smoking and alcohol use who have not quit smoking or drinking;
Patients allergic to iodine or iodine-containing preparations;
Patients with psychiatric disorders, lack of insight, or those who cannot accurately express themselves or cooperate;
Patients with contraindications for SVF transplantation, such as ulceration or infection of the expanded skin;
Patients with severely loose skin or insufficient subcutaneous fat tissue;
Patients who request to withdraw informed consent and exit the clinical trial.

Treatment and study plan

Stromal vascular fraction transplantation

Biological

Subcutaneous fat was harvested from either the abdomen or the posterior inner thigh region and then digested with 600 U of collagenase (Shanghai Qiaoyuan Biological Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China) at 37°C and 150rpm for three hours. After enzymatic digestion, the lower aqueous phase liquid was aspirated to acquire the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). The SVF cell-pellet was washed and adjusted to 2×10^6 cells/mL. Lidocaine cream will be applied to the expanded skin to achieve surface anesthesia. The skin was marked with methylene blue and a total of 0.5ml (around 1×10^6 cells) were transplanted intradermally at the center of each 2cm×2cm squares. The expander was inflated two times a week using constant pressure inflation method, where the intracapsular pressure was monitored using a pressure meter and the inflation was halted when the pressure reached 100 mmHg.

Normal saline injection

Biological

Lidocaine cream will be applied to the expanded skin to achieve surface anesthesia. The skin was marked with methylene blue and a total of 0.5ml 0.9% normal saline were transplanted intradermally at the center of each 2cm×2cm squares. The expander was inflated two times a week using constant pressure inflation method, where the intracapsular pressure was monitored using a pressure meter and the inflation was halted when the pressure reached 100 mmHg.

Primary outcomes

Dermal thickness

Time frame: Baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after intervention

Using Doppler ultrasound to measure the full-thickness of skin dermis of the expanded skin. The measurements were conducted at the center of the expanded skin and other four points (above, below, left, right) around the center. The average value is taken to represent the dermal thickness of the patient's expanded skin.

Secondary outcomes

Skin surface area

Time frame: baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after intervention

Using the HSCAN771 handheld laser 3D scanner and the VIVID910 3D laser scanning system to measure the surface area of the expanded skin.

Other outcomes

Skin texture

Time frame: Baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after intervention

Using the VISIA skin analyzer to visualize the distribution of dermal marks, which is an indication of dermal rupture. Briefly, photographs of the patient's expanded skin were taken from three standard angles: front, left side, and right side. Use the VISIA instrument to generate texture imaging of the expanded skin, selecting the expanded skin and surrounding normal skin as the region of interest. Employ the instrument's built-in red area analysis function to analyze the distribution of dermal marks in the expanded skin.

Using the elasticity probe of CK Skin analyzer to measure the elasticity of the expanded skin. Represent skin softness through the skin viscoelasticity parameter R2 (R2 = Ua/Uf, where Ua is the total elastic and plastic recovery, and Uf is the total elastic and plastic deformation).
Skin perfusion

Time frame: Baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after intervention

Indocyanine green (ICG) angiography was used to detect the blood perfusion of the expanded skin. Briefly, the detector of SPY imaging system was adjusted to approximately 20 cm from the surface of the flap. A white light photograph of the expanded skin was taken. Without changing the detector position, indocyanine green imaging was performed as follows: Inject 2 ml of ICG solution (2.5 mg/ml) intravenously and fluorescence signals from the expanded skin were collected by SPY imaging system. The integrated SPY-Q software was used for the analysis of the arterial and venous perfusion of the expanded flap.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Xiaohan Lin

CONTACT

[email protected]

(021)23271699 ext. 5576

Xin Huang, M.D., Ph.D.

CONTACT

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Intradermal Stromal Vascular Fraction Transplantation on the Regeneration of Expanded Skin: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Aug 11, 2025
Registry last updated: Aug 17, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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