We evaluated the use of a combination of adipose tissue derived adult stem cells (ADSCs) obtained from liposuction and injectable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) spheres for adipose tissue engineering. Adipogenesis was examined in nude mice injected subcutaneously with ADSCs (group I), PLGA spheres (group II), or ADSCs attached PLGA spheres (group IIIu) cultured in adipogenic medium for 7 days. After 4 and 8 weeks, newly formed adipose tissue was observed in groups II and III but not in group I. Oil red O staining of newly formed tissue showed that there was Substantially more tissue regeneration and adipogenic differentiation in group III than ill group II. RT-PCR confirmed that, after 8 weeks, the PLGA-attached ADSCs had fully differentiated into adipocytes. This Study provides significant evidence that ADSCs and PLGA spheres can be used in a clinical setting to generate adipose tissue as a noninvasive soft tissue filler. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.