Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic 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...

Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic 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.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Shaping cell therapy manufacturing with metabolic understanding and control.

Trends in biotechnology·2026

Same author

Clinical-scale bioreactor production of hiPSC-derived extracellular vesicles modulates miRNA and protein cargo to enhance angiogenic function.

Trends in biotechnology·2026

Same author

Are we there yet? The road to faster and more efficient CAR T cell manufacturing.

Journal of biological engineering·2026

Same author

Bridging process diversity in cell therapies toward standardization of manufacturing workflows.

Cytotherapy·2026

Same author

From Fiber Architecture to Functional Attachment: A Clinically Relevant, Mechanically Tunable Cardiac Patch.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026

Same author

Scaling the manufacture of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: integrated bioreactor workflows from inoculation to harvest without the need of seed train.

BMC biotechnology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Cryopreservation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells at the Optimal Stage

Cryopreservation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells at the Optimal Stage

Published on: November 3, 2023

Surface-based cryopreservation strategies for human embryonic stem cells: a comparative study.

Rita Malpique¹, Rui Tostões, Axel F J Beier

¹Animal Cell Technology, IBET, Oeiras, Portugal.

Biotechnology Progress

|June 22, 2012

Summary

Efficient cryopreservation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) is crucial for cell therapy. Surface-based vitrification offers superior recovery rates for intact hESC colonies compared to slow-freezing methods.

More Related Videos

Freezing Human ES Cells

Freezing Human ES Cells

Published on: October 12, 2006

Freezing and Thawing Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Freezing and Thawing Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: December 24, 2009

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Cryopreservation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells at the Optimal Stage

Cryopreservation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells at the Optimal Stage

Published on: November 3, 2023

Freezing Human ES Cells

Freezing Human ES Cells

Published on: October 12, 2006

Freezing and Thawing Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Freezing and Thawing Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Published on: December 24, 2009

Area of Science:

Stem cell biology
Cryobiology
Regenerative medicine

Background:

Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) are vital for gene and cell therapies.
Current hESC cryopreservation methods have low recovery rates and technical challenges.
Efficient methods are needed for bulk handling of pluripotent cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare cryopreservation strategies for adherent hESC colonies.
To evaluate slow-rate freezing versus surface-based vitrification.
To assess alginate entrapment for enhanced cryopreservation.

Main Methods:

Comparison of slow-rate freezing protocols for intact hESC colonies.
Evaluation of surface-based vitrification.
Investigation of alginate entrapment for cryopreservation.

Main Results:

Alginate entrapment did not improve hESC survival during slow-rate freezing.
Vitrification yielded significantly higher recovery rates than slow-rate freezing.
hESC pluripotency was maintained after vitrification and thawing.

Conclusions:

Surface-based vitrification is the most efficient method for cryopreserving intact hESC colonies.
Vitrification reduces time for amplifying frozen cell stocks.
This method supports broader research and clinical applications of hESC.