Biological Samples: Cryopreservation to Translational Medicine and Clinical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The cryopreservation of biological samples began with the discovery of glycerol and the use of dimethyl sulfoxide in the 1940s and ‘50s. However, for the past 80 years, not much progress has been made to replace those toxic cryoprotectants, even if FDA guidelines do not prohibit their use. This toxicity can be due to proteins, oxidative and osmotic damage, chilling injury, and cold shock. Based on the importance of cryopreservation in the field of regenerative medicine and organ preservation, the development of non-toxic cryoprotectant cryosystems to store and transport biological samples is increasingly becoming a priority. Different aspects of biological cryopreservation require attention such as developing new cryoprotectants (with a decrease in toxicity in terms of viability and genetic mutations, an increase in cryoprotection, and a decrease in ice formation), developing devices to control temperature/time incubation, their transport, thawing devices to decrease toxicity due to cryoprotectants, and maintaining biological properties. However, the cryopreservation of biological samples is little discussed in publications and at international conferences; cryopreservation has an important effect on biological outcomes and will be one of the key steps in fields such as regenerative medicine and organ transplantation. 

This Special Issue will host reviews, articles, and methods from scientists and clinicians who have been studying the cryopreservation of biological samples. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, all potential medical applications of biological sample cryopreservation (cryoprotectants, cryopreservation systems, cells, antibodies, biopsies, organoids, cell sheets, organs, etc.).

Dr. Joan Oliva
Guest Editor

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• cryoprotectant
• cryopreservation
• vitrification
• thawing
• toxicity
• organ preservation
• regenerative medicine
• transport
• container