How do I save cell therapy product's storage space?

Area of Science:

• Cellular therapy
• Cryobiology
• Transplant medicine

Background:

• Limited liquid nitrogen (LN2) freezer storage space is a growing challenge for transplant programs.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for increased cryopreservation capacity for allogeneic grafts.
• Multi-compartment cryopreservation bags present a potential solution for space constraints but require validation.

Observation:

• The study validated the use of five-compartment cryobags for cell therapy products.
• Post-thaw analysis included product volume distribution, total nucleated cell (TNC) recovery, and cell viability.
• Bag compartment integrity and label adhesion were also assessed.

Findings:

• All cryopreserved specimens met established post-thaw viability and TNC recovery criteria.
• An optimized fill volume of 24-25 mL ensured acceptable volume distribution across compartments.
• Proper heat sealing maintained aliquot integrity, and labels remained adherent and legible.

Implications:

• Multi-compartment cryobags are validated for successful cryopreservation of cell therapy products, including donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) aliquots.
• These bags significantly increase cryopreservation storage capacity, addressing a critical challenge for growing transplant programs.
• The findings support the broader adoption of multi-compartment bags to improve efficiency in cell therapy storage and logistics.