Hydrogel Cryopreservation System: An Effective Method for Cell Storage

Abstract

At present, living cells are widely used in cell transplantation and tissue engineering. Many efforts have been made aiming towards the use of a large number of living cells with high activity and integrated functionality. Currently, cryopreservation has become well-established and is effective for the long-term storage of cells. However, it is still a major challenge to inhibit cell damage, such as from solution injury, ice injury, recrystallization and osmotic injury during the thawing process, and the cytotoxicity of cryoprotectants. Hence, this review focused on different novel gel cryopreservation systems. Natural polymer hydrogel cryopreservation, the synthetic polymer hydrogel cryopreservation system and the supramolecular hydrogel cryopreservation system were presented, respectively. Due to the unique three-dimensional network structure of the hydrogel, these hydrogel cryopreservation systems have the advantages of excellent biocompatibility for natural polymer hydrogel cryopreservation systems, designability for synthetic polymer hydrogel cryopreservation systems, and versatility for supramolecular hydrogel cryopreservation systems. To some extent, the different hydrogel cryopreservation methods can confine ice crystal growth and decrease the change rates of osmotic shock in cell encapsulation systems. It is notable that the cryopreservation of complex cells and tissues is demanded in future clinical research and therapy, and depends on the linkage of different methods.

Coaxial Alginate Hydrogels: From Self-Assembled 3D Cellular Constructs to Long-Term Storage

“…Due to their distinguished properties, such as ease of gelling with divalent metal cations (ionic cross-linking) thus forming an “egg-box” structure [ 5 ] and 3D environment close to the extracellular matrix of native tissues, high biocompatibility, low immunogenicity in vivo and controlled biodegradability [ 6 , 7 , 8 ], alginate hydrogels have been widely used in medicine and medicine-related research [ 3 ]. This includes delivery vehicles in cancer treatment [ 9 ], wound dressing [ 4 ], mammalian cell culture in biomedical studies, tissue regeneration with protein and cell delivery, engineering of various tissues/organs [ 10 , 11 , 12 ] including bladder regeneration [ 13 ], bone tissue engineering [ 14 ], and a protective carrier for cryopreservation [ 15 ].…”

Long-Term Cryostorage of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Containing Hybrid Hydrogel Scaffolds Based on Fibrin and Collagen

“…Nevertheless, the preservation of the structural elements of the hydrogel should contribute to the preservation of the cellular component of the scaffold. Several studies have demonstrated that the use of hydrogel capsules for the cryopreservation of cells makes it possible to minimize the damaging effects associated with cryostorage [ 41 , 42 , 43 ]. Hydrogel scaffolds generally have a three-dimensional structure and have biomimetic properties comparable to natural tissues [ 44 , 45 ].…”

Application of DNA Quadruplex Hydrogels Prepared from Polyethylene Glycol-Oligodeoxynucleotide Conjugates to Cell Culture Media

“…The addition of other substrates that allow cell adhesion such as collagen to hydrogel matrix may solve this problem and promote cell proliferation [36,37]. The present system with high biocompatibility and biodegradability might provide efficient cell storage media that does not require freezing as well—if the observed sedimentation of the cells can be prevented, for example, by adjusting the specific gravity of G-quadruplex hydrogels [38,39,40].…”