Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026
07:03
Cryopreservation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells at the Optimal Stage
Published on: November 3, 2023
[Effective cryopreservation of human embryonic stem cells by programmed freezing]
Peng Fei Yang1, Hsiao Chien Tsung, Qi Kang Cheng
1Institute of Cryomedicine and Cryogenics, Shanghai University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200093.
Shi Yan Sheng Wu Xue Bao
|July 28, 2005
Summary
Cryopreservation of human embryonic stem cells (ES cells) remains a challenge. Optimized cryoprotective agents and a controlled cooling rate of -0.5°C/min achieved an 81.8% survival rate for ES cells.
Area of Science:
- Stem Cell Biology
- Cryobiology
- Biotechnology
Context:
- Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) cryopreservation is critical for regenerative medicine and research.
- Current methods often result in significant cell loss, limiting their clinical application.
- Developing robust protocols for long-term hESC storage is an unmet need.
Purpose:
- To optimize the cryopreservation protocol for human embryonic stem cells.
- To identify optimal cryoprotective agent mixtures and cooling parameters.
- To improve the survival rate of cryopreserved hESCs.
Summary:
- A computer-controlled programmable cooler was utilized to investigate key cryopreservation variables for hESCs.
- Optimal cryoprotective agent composition was identified as Me2SO + FBS + DMEM (1:3:6, v/v/v).
- A cooling protocol involving seeding at -10°C, cooling at -0.5°C/min to -35°C, and immediate plunging into liquid nitrogen yielded high survival rates (81.8%).
Impact:
- Establishes a highly effective cryopreservation protocol for hESCs, significantly improving cell viability.
- Facilitates the reliable storage and future use of valuable hESC lines for research and therapeutic development.
- Addresses a critical bottleneck in stem cell banking and clinical translation.
Related Concept Videos
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
00:57Embryonic Stem Cells
Embryonic stem (ES) cells were first discovered in mice in 1981 by Martin Evans. In 1998, James Thomson identified a method to isolate embryonic stem cells from humans. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are obtained from 3-5 day old embryos that remain unused after an in vitro fertilization procedure.
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
ES cells are grown in a culture medium where they can divide indefinitely, creating ES cell lines. Under certain conditions, ES cells can differentiate, either spontaneously into a variety of...
01:28Cryo-electron Microscopy
Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...