Differences in the requirements for cryopreservation of porcine aortic smooth muscle and endothelial cells

One of the basic requirements for the production of tissue-engineered constructs is an effective means of storing both the constructs and the cells that will be used to make them. This paper reports on the cryopreservation of porcine aortic smooth muscle and endothelial cells intended for the production of model vascular constructs. We first determined the cell volume, nonosmotic volume, and the permeability parameters for water and the cryoprotectant dimethyl sulfoxide (Me(2)SO) in these cells at 2-4 degrees and 22 degrees C. The following results were obtained: Table unavailable in HTML format. Using a cell culture assay, both cell types were shown to tolerate threefold changes in cell volume, in either direction, without significant injury. Although these data suggested that single-step methods for the introduction and removal of 10% w/w Me(2)SO should be effective, an additional mannitol dilution step was adopted in order to reduce the time required for removal of the Me(2)SO. Following cooling at 0.3, 1, or 10 degrees C/min and storage at less than -160 degrees C, the survival of porcine aortic smooth muscle cell suspensions, measured by a cell culture assay, was inversely related to cooling rate; at 0.3 degrees C/min, recovery was >80%. The survival rate for aortic endothelial cells was directly related to cooling rate over the range tested and was >80% at 10 degrees C/min.