Electrochemolipolysis of Human Adipose Tissue

Hutchison, Dana M; Hakimi, Amir A.; Hong, Ellen M; Pham, Tiffany; Wijayaweera, Avin; Seo, Soo Hong; Qu, Yueqiao; Bircan, Melissa; Sivoraphonh, Ryan; Dunn, Brandyn; Sun, Carlos; Kobayashi, Mark R.; Kim, Sehwan; Wong, Brian J. F.

doi:10.1089/fpsam.2019.29011.hut

Cited by 8 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Our group's preliminary studies have shown that V-ECLL may serve as a low-cost minimally invasive method of lysing adipocytes for medical or cosmetic purposes. 24,25,32,33 However, open-loop V-ECLL has limitations as the current spikes, plateaus, and then decays within the first 30 seconds of treatment, indicating a short time frame during which most charge transfer occurs. Therefore, V-ECLL in its current embodiment is limited in delivering charge and subsequently less efficient at producing sufficient acid and base to induce adipocyte lysis, despite continued voltage application.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring feedback‐controlled versus open‐circuit electrochemical lipolysis in ex vivo and in vivo porcine fat: A feasibility study

et al. 2021

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Objectives: Minimally invasive fat sculpting techniques are becoming more widespread with the development of office-based devices and therapies. Electrochemical lipolysis (ECLL) is a needle-based technology that uses direct current (DC) to electrolyze tissue water creating acid and base in situ. In turn, fat is saponified and adipocyte cell membrane lysis occurs. The electrolysis of water can be accomplished using a simple open-loop circuit (V-ECLL) or by incorporating a feedback control circuit using a potentiostat (P-ECLL). A potentiostat utilizes an operational amplifier with negative feedback to allow users to precisely control voltage at specific electrodes. To date, the variation between the two approaches has not been studied. The aim of this study was to assess current and charge transfer variation and lipolytic effect created by the two approaches in an in vivo porcine model. Methods: Charge transfer measurements from ex vivo V-ECLL and P-ECLL treated porcine skin and fat were recorded at −1 V P-ECLL, −2 V P-ECLL, −3 V P-ECLL, and −5 V V-ECLL each for 5 min to guide dosimetry parameters for in vivo studies. In follow-up in vivo studies, a sedated female Yorkshire pig was treated with both V-ECLL and P-ECLL across the dorsal surface over a range of dosimetry parameters, including −1.5 V P-ECLL, −2.5 V P-ECLL, −3.5 V P-ECLL, and 5 V V-ECLL each treated for 5 min. Serial biopsies were performed at baseline before treatment, 1, 2, 7, 14, and 28 days after treatment. Tissue was examined using fluorescence microscopy and histology to compare the effects of the two ECLL approaches. Results: Both V-ECLL and P-ECLL treatments induced in-vivo fat necrosis evident by adipocyte membrane lysis, adipocyte denuclearization, and an acute inflammatory response across a 28-day longitudinal study. However, −1.5 V P-ECLL produced a smaller spatial necrotic effect compared to 5 V V-ECLL. In addition, 5 V V-ECLL produced a comparable necrotic effect to that of −2.5 V and −3.5 V P-ECLL. Conclusions: V-ECLL and P-ECLL at the aforementioned dosimetry parameters both achieved fat necrosis by adipocyte membrane lysis and denuclearization. The −2.5 V and −3.5 V P-ECLL treatments created spatially similar fat necrotic effects when compared to the 5 V V-ECLL treatment. Quantitatively, total charge transfer between dosimetry parameters suggests that −2.5 V P-ECLL and 5 V V-ECLL produce comparable electrochemical reactions. Such findings suggest

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring feedback‐controlled versus open‐circuit electrochemical lipolysis in ex vivo and in vivo porcine fat: A feasibility study

et al. 2021

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“…The greater effect of ECT at the cathode compared to the anode has been previously demonstrated in prior studies and was expected. 19 , 20 , 22 pH mapping revealed an increase in effect area with increasing voltage, suggesting that dosimetry parameters (along with electrode geometry) may be adjusted to treat a precise area and depth of cutaneous tissue. This direct acid base dose-response relationship is consistent with previous works on ECT and is likely due to the generation and migration of chemical species down both their concentration and electropotential gradients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A custom MATLAB algorithm was developed to quantify the width of pH perturbations at both electrode sites in each photograph as previously described. 20 Briefly, photographs were processed using CIELAB, a color space designed to be perceptually uniform to human color vision. A custom algorithm allows users to define the region of interest (ROI) of a select color for semi-automatic segmentation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The potential of electrochemical therapy to reshape cartilage, lyse adipocytes and modify collagen in facial skin has been previously described. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] This study is the first to characterise the redox-induced alterations to ex vivo human abdominal skin. Specifically, we aim to identify structural changes that occur after these electrochemical reactions through pH landscape mapping and histopathologic analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The potential of electrochemical therapy to reshape cartilage, lyse adipocytes and modify collagen in facial skin has been previously described. 15 – 21 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Electrochemical treatment of ex vivo human abdominal skin and potential use in scar management: A pilot study

Hutchison

Hakimi

Wijayaweera

et al. 2021

Scars, Burns & Healing

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Introduction: Scar treatments aim to address pathologic collagen deposition; however, they can be expensive or difficult to control. Electrochemical therapy (ECT) offers a simple alternative treatment. The purpose of this study is to examine the acid-base and histological changes in ex vivo human abdominal skin following ECT. Methods: Forty-two ex vivo human panniculus tissue sections collected from six individuals were tumesced with normal saline. ECT was performed by inserting two platinum needle electrodes connected to a DC power supply into each specimen. Voltage was varied (3–6 V) and applied for 5 minutes. Each specimen was sectioned across both electrode insertion sites and immediately stained with pH sensitive dye. The width of dye color change for each dosimetry pair was calculated. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate samples. Results and Discussion: ECT caused a spatially localised and dose-dependent increased area of acidic and basic pH around the anode and cathode, respectively. A significantly greater mean width of pH change was generated at the cathode compared to the anode in all treatment groups. Histological evaluation displayed broad condensation and hyalinisation of dermal collagen. Conclusion: ECT triggered dermal pH alterations and changed the underlying structural framework of the specimen. This technology may serve as a low-cost, minimally invasive local soft-tissue remodeling technique with potential application in scar management. Level of Evidence: 5 Lay Summary Electrochemical therapy is a novel treatment that causes spatially selective dermal injury in areas of interest. This study measures the effects of electrochemical therapy when applied to abdominal skin. Electrochemical therapy appears to have beneficial effects by causing a highly localised reduction in collagen content or local softening of tissue, which is consistent with other studies on scar therapies, including chemexfoliation, radiofrequency technologies, and lasers. However, electrochemical therapy can be performed at a fraction of the costs of these aforementioned modalities.

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In vivo electrochemical lipolysis of fat in a Yucatan pig model: A proof of concept study

et al. 2022

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Objectives Traditional fat contouring is now regularly performed using numerous office‐based less invasive techniques. However, some limitations of these minimally invasive techniques include high cost or limited selectivity with performing localized contouring and reduction of fat. These shortcomings may potentially be addressed by electrochemical lipolysis (ECLL), a novel approach that involves the insertion of electrodes into tissue followed by application of a direct current (DC) electrical potential. This results in the hydrolysis of tissue water creating active species that lead to fat necrosis and apoptosis. ECLL can be accomplished using a simple voltage‐driven system (V‐ECLL) or a potential‐driven feedback cell (P‐ECLL) both leading to water electrolysis and the creation of acid and base in situ. The aim of this study is to determine the long‐lasting effects of targeted ECLL in a Yucatan pig model. Methods A 5‐year‐old Yucatan pig was treated with both V‐ECLL and P‐ECLL in the subcutaneous fat layer using 80:20 platinum:iridium needle electrodes along an 8 cm length. Dosimetry parameters included 5 V V‐ECLL for 5, 10, and 20 minutes, and −1.5 V P‐ECLL, −2.5 V P‐ECLL, −3.5 V P‐ECLL for 5 minutes. The pig was assessed for changes in fat reduction over 3 months with digital photography and ultrasound. After euthanasia, tissue sections were harvested and gross pathology and histology were examined. Results V‐ECLL and P‐ECLL treatments led to visible fat reduction (12.1%–27.7% and 9.4%–40.8%, respectively) and contour changes across several parameters. An increased reduction of the superficial fat layer occurred with increased dosimetry parameters with an average charge transfer of 12.5, 24.3, and 47.5 C transferred for 5 V V‐ECLL for 5, 10, and 20 minutes, respectively, and 2.0, 11.5, and 24.0 C for −1.5 V P‐ECLL, −2.5 V P‐ECLL, −3.5 V P‐ECLL for 5 minutes, respectively. These dose‐dependent changes were also evidenced by digital photography, gross pathology, ultrasound imaging, and histology. Conclusions ECLL results in selective damage and long‐lasting changes to the adipose layer in vivo. These changes are dose‐dependent, thus allowing for more precise contouring of target areas. P‐ECLL has greater efficiency and control of total charge transfer compared to V‐ECLL, suggesting that a low‐voltage potentiostat treatment can result in fat apoptosis equivalent to a high‐voltage DC system.

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Electrochemolipolysis of Human Adipose Tissue

Cited by 8 publications

References 21 publications

Exploring feedback‐controlled versus open‐circuit electrochemical lipolysis in ex vivo and in vivo porcine fat: A feasibility study

Exploring feedback‐controlled versus open‐circuit electrochemical lipolysis in ex vivo and in vivo porcine fat: A feasibility study

Electrochemical treatment of ex vivo human abdominal skin and potential use in scar management: A pilot study

In vivo electrochemical lipolysis of fat in a Yucatan pig model: A proof of concept study

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