Guidelines for Packaging, Transport, and Storage of Source Cells for Organoids

Abstract

This report presents guidelines for the systematic management of packaging, storage, transportation, and traceability of source cells used for organoid research. Given the important role of source cells in organoid studies, it is important to ensure the preservation of their quality and integrity throughout transportation and distribution processes. The proposed guidelines, therefore, call for a cohesive strategy through these stages to minimize the risks of contamination, deterioration, and loss–threats that significantly compromise the safety, efficacy, and efficiency of source cells. Central to these guidelines is the quality control measures that include roles and responsibilities across the entire supply chain, with recommendations specific to packaging materials, transportation facilities, and storage management. Furthermore, the need for an integrated management system is emphasized, spanning from source cell collection to the final application. This system is crucial for maintaining the traceability and accountability of source cells, facilitating the sharing, distribution, and utilization on a global scale, and supporting to advance organoid research and development.

Standards for Organoids

“…This issue of the International Journal of Stem Cells includes special reports based on the OSI guidelines. It features the latest information on standard organ-specific production and explores the future development directions: Ahn et al ( 6 ), introduces cell type-specific culture strategies for organoids and presents quantitative and qualitative testing methods at endpoints; Lee et al ( 7 ), discusses factors critical to organoid viability, including cell and organoid packing and transportation methods; Moon et al ( 8 ), provides up-to-date information on culturing conditions and procedures for hepatotoxicity evaluation organoids, liver-specific functionalities, essential cell compositions, and test methods for quality evaluation criteria; Lee et al ( 9 ), for heart; Kang et al ( 10 ), for kidney; Lim et al ( 11 ), for lung; Kwak et al ( 12 ), for brain; and Lee et al ( 13 ), for skin. In addition to the above guidelines, Son et al ( 14 ) established the standardized manufacturing, maturation, and quality assessment protocols for human intestinal organoids through OSI activites.…”