title: Preserving human cells for regenerative, reproductive, and transfusion medicine.
abstract: Cell cryopreservation maintains cellular life at sub-zero temperatures by slowing down biochemical processes. Various cell types are routinely cryopreserved in modern reproductive, regenerative, and transfusion medicine. Current cell cryopreservation methods involve freezing (slow/rapid) or vitrifying cells in the presence of a cryoprotective agent (CPA). Although these methods are clinically utilized, cryo-injury due to ice crystals, osmotic shock, and CPA toxicity cause loss of cell viability and function. Recent approaches using minimum volume vitrification provide alternatives to the conventional cryopreservation methods. Minimum volume vitrification provides ultra-high cooling and rewarming rates that enable preserving cells without ice crystal formation. Herein, we review recent advances in cell cryopreservation technology and provide examples of techniques that are utilized in oocyte, stem cell, and red blood cell cryopreservation.
authors.affiliation: Bio-Acoustic-MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Asghar
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: El Assal
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shafiee
authors.forename: Raymond M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Anchan
authors.forename: Utkan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Demirci
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D064826:Transfusion Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D058989:Vitrification
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents
keywords: Cryopreservation; Regenerative medicine; Reproductive medicine; Transfusion medicine; Vitrification