X-Message-Number: 13261
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 09:09:46 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: intracellular trehalose improves cryopreservation

Intracellular Trehalose Improves the Survival of Cryopreserved Mammalian Cells.

Nat Biotechnol 2000 Feb;18(2):163-7
Eroglu A, Russo MJ, Bieganski R, Fowler A, Cheley S, Bayley H, Toner M
The Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgical Services,
Massachusetts General Hospital,
Harvard Medical School,
   and Shriners Hospital for Children,
Boston, MA 02114.

    We report that the introduction of low concentrations of intracellular
trehalose can greatly improve the survival of mammalian cells during
cryopreservation. Using a genetically engineered mutant of Staphylococcus
aureus alpha-hemolysin to create pores in the cellular membrane, we were
able to load trehalose into cells. Low concentrations (0.2 M) of trehalose
permitted long-term post-thaw survival of more than 80% of 3T3 fibroblasts
and 70% of human keratinocytes. These results indicate that simplified and
widely applicable freezing protocols may be possible using sugars as
intracellular cryoprotective additives.

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