Corning® X-WASH® System For DMSO Reduction Of Cryopreserved Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

By Hilary Sherman and John Shyu, Corning Incorporated, Life Sciences

With more cell-based therapies going through clinical trials, there is an increasing need for more robust tools to simplify workflows. Cryopreservation is a necessary part of workflows for both autologous and allogeneic therapies¹. The ability to cryopreserve cells for cell therapy increases the potential range of administration, shelf life and time for safety testing to occur². Cryoprotectants, such as dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), are often added to freezing media in order to reduce ice formation and increase cell survival post-thaw. However, DMSO itself can be cytotoxic so it is necessary to reduce its final concentration as much as possible³. In this article, we demonstrate how the Corning X-WASH can reduce the amount of DMSO used in cryopreserved cells through a semi-automated, closed system. Using the Corning X-WASH, we were able to achieve a significant reduction in DMSO concentration of cryopreserved bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC), while maintaining high cell recovery, viability, and multipotency.