Cryopreservation of dissociated human embryonic stem cells in the presence of ROCK inhibitor

Summary

Two different methods have been adopted for the cryopreservation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs): vitrification and conventional slow freezing/rapid thawing. However, these methods present poor viability and high differentiation rates. Therefore, the development of an efficient cryopreservation protocol for hESCs is one of the major challenges for the application of these cells in clinical therapy and regenerative medicine. A novel method for the cryopreservation of dissociated hESCs in the presence of a selective Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor that increases cell survival and the efficiency of colony formation of cryopreserved hESCs has been developed. Moreover, this protocol improves the existing methods presenting short recovery times and hardly any differentiation rates. Thus, an easy handling protocol that allows the cryopreservation of large amounts of hESCs is described. Copyright 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Authors Martín-Ibáñez R, Strömberg AM, Hovatta O, Canals JM
Journal Current protocols in stem cell biology
Publication Date 2009 Jul;Chapter 1:Unit 1C.8
PubMed 19585460
DOI 10.1002/9780470151808.sc01c08s10

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