Choudhery MS, Niaz A, Arif T, Mahmood R. Adipose tissue as a living drug: Stromal vascular fraction and adipose tissue-derived stem cells in regenerative medicine. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(12): 114170 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i12.114170]
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Mahmood S Choudhery, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Khayaban-e- Jamia Punjab, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan. ms20031@yahoo.com
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Cell Biology
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (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/
Dec 26, 2025 (publication date) through Dec 31, 2025
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World Journal of Stem Cells
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Choudhery MS, Niaz A, Arif T, Mahmood R. Adipose tissue as a living drug: Stromal vascular fraction and adipose tissue-derived stem cells in regenerative medicine. World J Stem Cells 2025; 17(12): 114170 [DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i12.114170]
World J Stem Cells. Dec 26, 2025; 17(12): 114170 Published online Dec 26, 2025. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v17.i12.114170
Adipose tissue as a living drug: Stromal vascular fraction and adipose tissue-derived stem cells in regenerative medicine
Mahmood S Choudhery, Ahmad Niaz, Taqdees Arif, Ruhma Mahmood
Mahmood S Choudhery, Ahmad Niaz, Taqdees Arif, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences Lahore, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
Ruhma Mahmood, Department of Pathology, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan
Author contributions: Choudhery MS, Arif T, and Mahmood R conceptualized the manuscript; Choudhery MS, Niaz A, Arif T, and Mahmood R wrote the original draft of the manuscript; Niaz A prepared, designed, and modified the figures; Niaz A, Arif T, and Mahmood R revised the manuscript; Choudhery MS critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors reviewed, read and agreed to the final version of the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
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: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Mahmood S Choudhery, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Health Sciences, Khayaban-e- Jamia Punjab, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan. ms20031@yahoo.com
Received: September 15, 2025 Revised: October 10, 2025 Accepted: November 12, 2025 Published online: December 26, 2025 Processing time: 103 Days and 17.4 Hours
Abstract
Adipose tissue has emerged as a rich and clinically relevant source of regenerative cells. It offers a minimally invasive, abundant, and autologous reservoir for therapeutic applications. Among its cellular components, the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have gained considerable attention due to their potent regenerative and immunomodulatory capacities. SVF is a heterogeneous mixture of cells, whereas ASCs constitute a more homogeneous mesenchymal stem cell-like population obtained through in vitro expansion. Together, these cell populations (SVF and ASCs) are described as “living drugs”, as they are viable and act as dynamic biological agents within the body. Unlike conventional medicines, living drugs exert therapeutic effects not only through direct differentiation but also via the secretion of bioactive molecules, including cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles. These secreted factors can modulate the surrounding microenvironment, enhance tissue repair, and regulate immune responses. Such paracrine mechanisms often play a more significant role than direct cell replacement, making living drugs versatile tools for regenerative medicine. This review provides a comprehensive overview of SVF and ASCs as living drugs. It discusses their cellular composition, mechanisms of action, methods of isolation, and the regenerative biomolecules they secrete. Furthermore, it explores current and emerging clinical applications, challenges, and future innovations.
Core Tip: Living drugs are cell-based therapies composed of viable, metabolically active cells that survive, adapt, and interact within the patient’s body, unlike conventional drugs with fixed chemical structures. Adipose tissue-derived products, such as stromal vascular fraction and adipose-derived stem cells, exemplify living drugs due to their ability to directly differentiate, secrete paracrine factors, modulate immunity, and promote angiogenesis and tissue repair. Stromal vascular fraction provides therapeutic synergy through its heterogeneous cell population, while adipose-derived stem cells offer high yield, accessibility, and potent secretory activity. Together, they represent promising regenerative strategies, shifting treatments toward durable, adaptive, and patient-specific repair.
