Macromolecular cryoprotectants for the preservation of mammalian cell culture: lessons from crowding, overview and perspectives

Abstract

Cryopreservation is a process used for the storage of mammalian cells at a very low temperature, in a state of ‘suspended animation’.

Cryopreservation of human erythrocytes through high intracellular trehalose with membrane stabilization of maltotriose-grafted ε-poly(l-lysine)

“…26,28 Thus, it was also important to provide suitable extracellular membrane stabilization from macromolecular cryoprotectants. 3,31 It was reported that polyampholyte and sodium hyaluronate could synergistically enhance cryopreservation of sheep erythrocytes in mixed cryoprotectant systems with dimethyl sulfoxide and glycerol, respectively. 32,33 In addition to inhibiting ice recrystallization, the capability of cryoprotectants to stabilize cell membranes should be considered to increase the cryosurvival of human erythrocytes.…”

Macrocycle molecule-based cryoprotectants for ice recrystallization inhibition and cell cryopreservation

“…1,2 However, the major challenges in cryopreservation technology are ice crystal formation, growth and recrystallization, which result in fatal cryoinjuries to biological samples. 3,4 Until now, flourishing cryoprotectants (CPAs) 5 have been developed quickly in cryobiology to inhibit ice recrystallization, shape ice crystals and depress the freezing point, such as glycerol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), carbohydrates, AF(G)P and its mimics, trehalose, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyampholytes, hydrogels, oxide graphite, proline, L-proline oligomers, MOFs, graphene oxide, 6 oxidized quasi-carbon nitride quantum dots, 7 and so on. However, DMSO is still the most common and gold-standard cryoprotectant, 8 showing a better protective effect in the media of cells for cryopreservation.…”

“…As a result, there is a growing need to develop novel CPAs for cryopreservation that will minimize or obviate the use of DMSO. 5 Polyol and its analogues 5 (glycerol, EG, PG, carbohydrates, AF(G)Ps, trehalose and PVA), have been widely explored as alternative CPAs. In view of the structural characteristics of polyol-based CPAs, we surmise that cyclodextrins and crown ethers will have potential cryopreservation effects as antifreezing materials.…”

“…As a result, there is a growing need to develop novel CPAs for cryopreservation that will minimize or obviate the use of DMSO. 5…”

“…30 It is known that minimization or obviation of the use of DMSO is important to developing novel CPAs. 5 As a result, 2.5% DMSO solution was used as a control group.…”