Abstract
Achieving good cell recovery after cryopreservation is an essential process when working with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Optimized freezing and thawing methods are required for good cell attachment and survival. In this review, we concentrate on these two aspects, freezing and thawing, but also discuss further factors influencing cell recovery such as cell storage and transport. Whenever a problem occurs during the thawing process of iPSC, it is initially not clear what it is caused by, because there are many factors involved that can contribute to insufficient cell recovery. Thawing problems can usually be solved more quickly when a certain order of steps to be taken is followed. Under optimized conditions, iPSC should be ready for further experiments approximately 4–7 days after thawing and seeding. However, if the freezing and thawing protocols are not optimized, this time can increase up to 2–3 weeks, complicating any further experiments. Here, we suggest optimization steps and troubleshooting options for the freezing, thawing, and seeding of iPSC on feeder-free, Matrigel™-coated, cell culture plates whenever iPSC cannot be recovered in sufficient quality. This review applies to two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell culture and to iPSC, passaged, frozen, and thawed as cell aggregates (clumps). Furthermore, we discuss usually less well-described factors such as the cell growth phase before freezing and the prevention of osmotic shock during thawing.
Highlights
Induced pluripotent stem cells, reprogrammed from somatic cells, offer unprecedented potential for regenerative medicine, drug screening, toxicology, and as cellular disease models [1,2]
Concluded in their publication that adding 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) + 50% fetal bovine serum (FBS) + 10% ethylene glycol to the medium was an optimal cryoprotectant for their slow freezing/rapid thawing protocol of human embryonic stem cells [51]
This applies to passaging, subsequent cryopreservation, and thawing. They demonstrated that a combination of trypsin or AccutaseTM, together with a low cell seeding density and without ROCK inhibitor strongly reduces the survival of Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) [37]
Summary
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), reprogrammed from somatic cells, offer unprecedented potential for regenerative medicine, drug screening, toxicology, and as cellular disease models [1,2]. We give an overview of the most important aspects that are important for a successful iPSC recovery such as cryopreservation, storage, transport, and thawing of iPSC, and we discuss less well-described factors such as the logarithmic cell growth phase before freezing, clone-toclone variability, and the prevention of osmotic shock during thawing. To complement this information, the protocols for freezing and thawing that we have been using successfully in our laboratory in recent years are available upon request
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