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.

通过皮下脂肪组织减少实现的身体轮廓在过去的一个世纪中取得了显着进展，从抽吸辅助脂肪切除术到降低侵入性的技术，包括激光、射频、高频聚焦超声、冷冻溶脂和药物注射方法。这些昂贵的技术主要集中在破坏脂肪细胞膜、水解甘油三酯（TG）或诱导细胞凋亡。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 期间，将盐水注射到皮下脂肪组织中，然后插入针电极并施加电位。盐水电解产生局部 pH 梯度，驱动脂肪细胞死亡和 TG 皂化。使用 pH 绘图、各种光学成像技术和生化测定，我们证明了 ECLL 在离体猪脂肪组织中诱导酸碱损伤、细胞死亡和甘油三酯皂化的能力。我们将 ECLL 的潜在作用定义为一种用于减少和塑造脂肪组织的微创、超低成本技术，并将 ECLL 作为新兴的基于电化学氧化还原的治疗方式的潜在新应用。