DMSO-Free Cryopreservation of Human Umbilical Cord Tissue.

Human umbilical cord represents a source of multipotent stromal cells of a supreme therapeutic potential. The cells can be isolated from either fresh or cryopreserved umbilical cord tissues. DMSO is a cryoprotectant most commonly used for preservation of umbilical cord tissues; however, cyto- and genotoxicity of this compound is evident and well documented. In the present study we performed successful cryopreservation of the umbilical cord tissue using other cryoprotectants: propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol. Of these, 1.5 M ethylene glycol and 20% glycerol turned out to be the best in terms of the preservation of living cells within the frozen tissue, early onset of migration of these cells out of the thawed explants, and overall efficacy of multipotent stromal cell isolation. Cryobanking of tissues can improve availability of multiple cell products for medical purposes and promote the development of personalized medicine.