Recent developments in cell shipping methods

Biotechnol Bioeng. 2022 Nov;119(11):2985-3006. doi: 10.1002/bit.28197. Epub 2022 Aug 11.

Abstract

As opposed to remarkable advances in the cell therapy industry, research reveal inexplicable difficulties associated with preserving and post-thawing cell death. Post cryopreservation apoptosis is a common occurrence that has attracted the attention of scientists to use apoptosis inhibitors. Transporting cells without compromising their survival and function is crucial for any experimental cell-based therapy. Preservation of cells allows the safe transportation of cells between distances and improves quality control testing in clinical and research applications. The vitality of transported cells is used to evaluate the efficacy of transportation strategies. For many decades, the conventional global methods of cell transfer were not only expensive but also challenging and had adverse effects. The first determination of some projects is optimizing cell survival after cryopreservation. The new generation of cryopreservation science wishes to find appropriate and alternative methods for cell transportation to ship viable cells at an ambient temperature without dry ice or in media-filled flasks. The diversity of cell therapies demands new cell shipping methodologies and cryoprotectants. In this review, we tried to summarize novel improved cryopreservation methods and alternatives to cryopreservation with safe and viable cell shipping at ambient temperature, including dry preservation, hypothermic preservation, gel-based methods, encapsulation methods, fibrin microbeads, and osmolyte solution compositions.

Keywords: alternative methods; ambient temperature; cell culture; cell death; cell shipping; cell transport; preservation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Survival*
  • Cryopreservation* / methods
  • Cryoprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Dry Ice*
  • Fibrin
  • Postal Service

Substances

  • Cryoprotective Agents
  • Dry Ice
  • Fibrin