Do you know that you can preserve your healthy extended cell and store them for a period of time to later re-use in regenerative medicine technology to fight many damaged tissues or cells? This innovative regenerative medicine technology is called cryopreservation.
Cryopreservation, which is commonly used in the process of in-vitro fertilization, is now being practiced by researchers and medical practitioners for replacing or repairing damaged tissues and cells( Cell-Based Therapies). A successful Cryopresevation Cell-Based Therapy can significantly change the recovery and treatment of many chronic and infectious diseases like Cancers, Tumors, and severe urinary problems.
As the leading manufacturer of filtered pipette tips, Cryogenic vials, Petri dishes, Cryo boxes, and many other microbiological lab equipment and instrument, we will explore the basic concept of cryopreservation and how cryopreservation can be beneficial in delivering cell-based therapies. Let’s look into the basics and discuss the necessary procedures required to turn this revolutionary technology into practical means.
Understanding What Is Cryopreservation
In simple words, cryopreservation is an innovative technique that preserves cells, tissues, and other biological elements by storing the samples at very low temperatures. This phenomenon is based on the ability of definite small molecules to enter some cells and prevent them from dehydrating by producing tiny intercellular ice crystals. The Cellular Cryopreservation system is primarily carried by a controlled-rate freezer which manages the desired minimal temperature by delivering liquid nitrogen in closed chambers. The common practice of cryopreservation is usually observed in storing and preservation of stem cells for basic research and medical applications.
How Cryopreservation Is Beneficial For Cell-Based Therapies
For a progressive clinical outcome of cell-based therapy, it is important to consistently deliver reliable and effective cell elements to the point of receipt timely. Significant difficulties can arise when the required point of receipt is separated by distance and time from the storage means where the cells are generally prepared or stored. Short-term storage, typically ranging from 2-4 days at a temperature of 4°C, can be appropriate only in some instances to attenuate such difficulties. However, any greater extension can be a potential risk to the metabolic nature of cells and enzymes as metabolic decline and disruption increase rapidly.
An effective long-term solution to this problem lies in successive cryopreservation processes, which offer a stable lower temperature for cells and tissues to be preserved without altering the nature of their enzymes. For cryopreservation to be used with maximum success, following the entire protocol of freezing, preserving, and thawing is essential in the required and prescribed precision manner.
Basic Procedure Of Cryopreservation
The basic procedure of cryopreservation is carried out in five basic steps, from the sourcing of sample cells to the thawing and recovery of final samples. Let us look into a brief study of what each step carries.
1- Sourcing Cell Samples
The process begins with the first critical step of retrieving the stem cells or tissues from the desired part of the body by apheresis or biopsy. Inevitably, these isolated biological samples may suffer significant damage the longer they are to remain without proper environmental care in vitro. Thus it is highly critical to stabilize the samples by cryopreservation.
2- The Freezing Process
In order to utilize the cryopreserved samples effectively, it is important to store the cell or tissue samples in an enzymatic activity-friendly environment till the delivery of these samples to the patients. The samples are immediately taken under a cryo box which holds different chambers to hold small cryo vials, which are specifically designed to hold the cryogenic samples in extremely low temperatures without disturbing their biological nature. These vials are then infused with liquid nitrogen and other cryoprotective agents to stabilize the biological samples.
3- Preparing The Final Sample
Preparing the final sample is always suggested to be carried out under professional hands as many difficulties lay during the lag time of the filling of cryo containers. Manual filling of these vials is possible when dealing with smaller volumes of samples. However, when it comes to comparatively large volumes of biological samples, opting for automated filling lines is best recommended, as it can omit the potential possibilities of lag time.
4- Extended Storage and Transport
After the precise sampling of the biological cells and tissues, storing the cryopreserved biological samples in controlled frozen storage is essential. Special care must be taken during transfer as even a few seconds of warming can compromise the viability of the newly frozen sample. During cryostorage, frozen products should be transported in specialized low-temperature maintaining containers. These containers are either equipped with liquid nitrogen or electric cooling systems.
5- Thawing And Recovery
For successful cryopreservation, the cooling rate to thawing rate ratio must be observed as these are co-dependent processes. A relatively rapid rate of warming is required to avoid potential damage to the frozen cryo-product. After the progressive thawing of the cryo-product present in the small cryo bags or vials, a further dilution of the cell product is improvised for better clinical use. It is essential to assess the post-thaw biological sample’s viability to confirm the efficacy of the delivered therapy.
Future Direction of Cryopreservation in Cell-Based Therapies
Effective cryopreservation and a skillfully managed cryo-chain are becoming increasingly acknowledged as they provide a key enabling technology to assist successful deliveries of cell-based therapies. For the continuous development of effective cell therapies in regenerative medicines, there is also a continuous parallel need to develop new protocols for cryopreservation processes. The successful cryopreservation of larger volumes will also become increasingly important with the continuous need for cell and tissue implants to resolve many chronic diseases.
Bottom Line
All in all, cryopreservation is an effective technique for regenerative medicines that provide successful cell-based therapy results. This research review proves that with the right implementation of cryopreservation procedures and accurate use of prescribed cryo containers, cryopreservation has the utmost potential to repair and regenerate damaged cells and tissues to cure and restore major chronic diseases.
If you are also an interested candidate in the cryopreservation technique and procedures, you must require a supply of all the microbiological lab equipment and instruments like cryo vials, Petri dishes, cryo boxes, pipettes, and more. MBP Inc. is the perfect go-to solution for all your microbiological lab needs. You can get your hands on the most reliable and safe lab equipment at great pricing at MBP Inc.
