title: Inhibiting ice recrystallization and optimization of cell viability after cryopreservation.
abstract: The ice recrystallization inhibition activity of various mono- and disaccharides has been correlated with their ability to cryopreserve human cell lines at various concentrations. Cell viabilities after cryopreservation were compared with control experiments where cells were cryopreserved with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The most potent inhibitors of ice recrystallization were 220 mM solutions of disaccharides; however, the best cell viability was obtained when a 200 mM d-galactose solution was utilized. This solution was minimally cytotoxic at physiological temperature and effectively preserved cells during freeze-thaw. In fact, this carbohydrate was just as effective as a 5% DMSO solution. Further studies indicated that the cryoprotective benefit of d-galactose was a result of its internalization and its ability to mitigate osmotic stress, prevent intracellular ice formation and/or inhibit ice recrystallization. This study supports the hypothesis that the ability of a cryoprotectant to inhibit ice recrystallization is an important property to enhance cell viability post-freeze-thaw. This cryoprotective benefit is observed in three different human cell lines. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the ability of a potential cryoprotectant to inhibit ice recrystallation may be used as a predictor of its ability to preserve cells at subzero temperatures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, D'Iorio Hall, 10 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chaytor
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tokarew
authors.forename: Luke K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leclère
authors.forename: Roger Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Chantelle J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Capicciotti
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guolla
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Moos
authors.forename: C Scott
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Robert N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Ben
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003460:Crystallization; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005690:Galactose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D007785:Lactose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008358:Mannose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008553:Melibiose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013395:Sucrose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014199:Trehalose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D007053:Ice; D013395:Sucrose; D008553:Melibiose; D014199:Trehalose; D005947:Glucose; D007785:Lactose; D008358:Mannose; D005690:Galactose; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide