Cryopreservation : Preserving Life for the Future

Cryopreservation is an important scientific technique used to store and preserve the biological samples to maintain their integrity and functionality for a long period of time at ultra-low temperatures by slowing down the biological and chemical reactions of living cells.  However, the excessive cooling may damage the cell’s original structure and function. Because freezing of tissue leads to the formation of ice crystals inside the cells which can significantly disrupt the cell structure and tissue, if the cooling process is not controlled properly.

Two primary cryopreservation techniques, slow freezing and vitrification are used. Using a slow freezing process, first cells are exposed to low temperatures (e.g., 4°C) before being gradually cooled to -80°C and then stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C. Slow freezing involves a gradual cooling process using cryoprotective agents (CPAs) like DMSO, which prevents the formation of ice crystals and preserves the cellular damage by reducing the freezing point of water.
On the other hand, vitrification involves cell suspensions being exposed to liquid nitrogen, which rapidly freezes the cells and minimizes ice nucleation before being frozen at deep cryogenic temperatures (i.e., using liquid nitrogen). However, both techniques require careful thawing procedures, provide rapid heating to dissolve ice crystals, and are followed by centrifugation to remove potentially harmful CPAs like DMSO.

Cryopreservation has experienced significant advancement in recent years with most notable trends and innovations shaping this field (1).

Applications and Latest Trends:

Cryopreservation is highly used in stem cell therapy, to store the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for the longer period, to treat haematological disorders like leukaemia and lymphoma. Typically, these stem cells are harvested from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood, and can be cryopreserved for future use (2).

Nanotechnology is the recent emerging technology where nanoparticles is being utilised to improve the penetration of cryoprotectants into cells and tissues, thereby increasing their effectiveness. Another intriguing advancement is gene editing technologies in cryopreservation. Before cryopreservation, cells and tissues can be altered using gene editing technologies such as CRISPRCas9 to increase their resistance to damage from freezing and thawing. 

Tissues and organs can be stored for extended period at temperatures below −130°C. Cryopreservation involves maintaining the physiological function of cells, tissues, and organs at ultra-low temperatures (−80°C or −196°C), at which point cellular activities nearly cease, making it a powerful tool for achieving long-term storage of tissues and organs (3).

Preservation of cells, tissues, organs, or even full organisms such as seeds at very low temperatures is often achieved by the storage of these biological materials in liquid nitrogen (-196°C) or in its vapor phase (<-160°C).  Successful cryopreservation of plant explants aims to inhibit cell metabolism, stabilize cellular structures and limit any molecular motion and chemical activity by solidifying the aqueous cytoplasm without the formation of ice crystals (4).

Abdos product range for Biological Preservation

Abdos Life Sciences offers a range of consumables used in cryopreservation including cryo vials (internal and external thread) for safe and long-term storage of samples while storage vials are prefect for PCR-reagents. Single-Hand Cryo Holder Racks ensure secure handling, and Cryo Boxes provide efficient ultra-low temperature storage. All products meet the highest industry standards for safety and reliability.

Future Contemplate

In the area of fundamental research and its therapeutic application, cryopreservation techniques become more advanced. With further innovations, these techniques could enable the preservation of entire ecosystems and save endangered species from extinction and treat various disorders related to organ failure and metabolic disorders. This is not only about storing and preserving biological material—it’s about offering hope. It’s about preserving life for future generations and paving the way for medical breakthroughs that could save lives in ways.

References: 

1. Cureus “Cryopreservation: A Review Article” (2022)
2. Wang and Li Stem Cell Research & Therapy “Effects, methods and limits of the cryopreservation on mesenchymal stem cells” (2024)
3. Frontiers in Veterinary science “Cryopreservation of tissues and organs: present, bottlenecks, and future” (2023)
4. Frontiers in plant sciences “Current status of the cryopreservation of embryogenic material of woody species” (2024)