Development of an infusible-grade solution for non-cryopreserved hematopoietic cell storage

Abstract

Various tissue culture medium formulations currently are used to transport, store and process stem and progenitor cells for transplantation, although these solutions are not manufactured for clinical use. We have developed an infusible-grade solution, STM-Sav, for short-term liquid cell storage and tested its ability to maintain viable functional hematopoietic cells, compared with commonly-used tissue culture solutions. G-CSF-stimulated normal-donor PBPC were stored in alpha-MEM, IMDM, RPMI-1640, AIM 5, X-VIVO 10, PlasmaLyte A and STM-Sav, in gas-permeable Cryocyte bags, at ambient temperature and 4 degrees C. The percentage of viable cells, percent recovery of viable mononuclear cells (MNC), percentage of CD34+ cells, CFU-GM frequency and solution pH were determined for each solution, at time points ranging from 0 to 72 h. Cells were slightly better maintained at 4 degrees C than at ambient temperature. No solution was superior to any other overall, although PlasmaLyte A was significantly inferior to all other solutions at preserving viable MNC. STM-Sav consistently maintained viable, functional cells as well as, or better than in-vitro-use-only culture media, or PlasmaLyte A. Cells could be stored in STM-Sav for at least 24 h at 4 degrees C or ambient temperature, with recovery of approximately 90% of initial viable MNC, unchanged percentage CD34+ cells and stable solution pH.