Bio-Protocol (Feb 2019)

Cell Microencapsulation and Cryopreservation with Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronan and Dimethyl Sulfoxide

  • H. Gurruchaga,
  • L. Saenz del Burgo,
  • G. Orive,
  • R. Hernandez,
  • Jesús Ciriza,
  • J. Pedraz

DOI
https://doi.org/10.21769/BioProtoc.3164
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 4

Abstract

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Cryopreservation is commonly used for the storage of cells, tissues, organs or 3D cell-based products using ultra-low temperatures, which involves the immersion in liquid nitrogen for their long-term preservation. The cryopreservation of several microencapsulated cells is usually performed by the slow freezing with the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a cryoprotectant agent (CPA). In this study, we cryopreserved several microencapsulated cells with the natural, non-toxic low molecular-weight hyaluronan (LMW-HA) at 5% and DMSO 10% solution assessing cell viability and metabolic activity after thawing. The cryopreservation of microencapsulated D1 mesenchymal stem cells (D1MSC) and murine myoblast cells (C2C12) with the LMW-HA 5% presented similar outcomes after thawing compared to the DMSO solution, showing the low molecular weight hyaluronan as a natural, non-toxic CPA that can be used preventing the DMSO related adverse effects after the implantation of the cryopreserved cell-based products.