Cryoprotectant-Free Freezing of Cells Using Liquid Marbles Filled with Hydrogel

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b16236
• Publication Date: 2018-11-26T15:56:54Z
• Authors: Raja Vadivelu; Navid Kashaninejad; Kamalalayam Rajan...; Ripon Bhattacharjee; Ian Cock; Nam-Trung Nguyen
• Keywords: Cryoprotectant

Cryopreservation without cryoprotectant remains a significant challenge for the re-establishment of cell culture after freeze–thaw. Thus, finding an alternative and simple cryopreservation method is necessary. Liquid marble (LM)-based digital microfluidics promising approach cryoprotectant-free cryopreservation. However, use this platform to efficiently preserve samples with low density well-controlled serum concentrations has not been investigated. We addressed issue by embedding agarose-containing fetal bovine (FBS) inside LM. A 500 cells/μL murine 3T3 cells was selected evaluating postcryogenic survivability. The effects on post-thaw viability concentration agarose, amount FBS volume LM were investigated systematically. This paper also presents analysis changes in shape crack size post-thawed agarose. results revealed that embedded agarose gel serves as controlled release mechanism significantly improves viability. Post-thaw recovery sustains major cellular features, such viability, adhesion, morphology. technology reported here opens up new possibilities cryopreserve rare biological toxicity risk cryoprotectants.