Hyuck Hoon Kwon, Steven Hoseong Yang, Joon Lee, Byung Cheol Park, Kui Young Park, Jae Yoon Jung, Youin Bae, Gyeong-Hun Park
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3666

A variety of applications of human adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes have been suggested as novel cell-free therapeutic strategies in the regenerative and aesthetic medical fields. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes as an adjuvant therapy after application of fractional CO2 laser for acne scars. A 12-week prospective, double-blind, randomized, split-face trial was performed. A total of 25 patients received 3 consecutive treatment sessions of fractional CO2 laser to the whole face, with a follow-up evaluation. Post-laser treatment regimens were applied; for each patient, one side of the face was treated with adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes gel and the other side was treated with control gel. Adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes-treated sides had achieved a significantly greater improvement than the control sides at the final follow-up visit (percentage reduction in échelle d’évaluation clinique des cicatrices d’acné scores: 32.5 vs 19.9%, p < 0.01). Treatment-related erythema was milder, and post-treatment downtime was shorter on the applications of human adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes-treated side. In conclusion, the combined use of this novel material with resurfacing devices would provide synergistic effects on both the efficacy and safety of atrophic acne scar treatments.

Adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes possess the critical properties of mesenchymal stem cells in the repair of organ injuries. Furthermore, adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes can avoid the risks of stem cell therapy because they are cell-free. A double-blind, randomized, first-in-human, clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of highly purified adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes as an adjuvant therapy after fractional CO2 laser application for acne scars. Application of adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes treatment yielded more favourable responses, a shorter recovery time, and fewer side-effects. The combined use of adipose tissue stem cell-derived exosomes with resurfacing devices could provide synergistic effects on the efficacy and safety of atrophic acne scar treatments.

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