The aim of this study was to evaluate the freezing response of HeLa and Jurkatcells in the presence of commercially available nanoparticles, NPs (PalmitoylNanogold®, Nanoprobes). The cells were incubated with NPs for either 5 min or 3 h, and a calorimetertechnique was then used to generate the volumetric shrinkage response during freezing at20 °C min−1.Concomitantly, we also examined the effect of a commonly used cryoprotectant, dimethylsulfoxide, DMSO(10% v/v ratio) on the freezing response of HeLa and Jurkat cells. By fitting a model of water transport tothe experimentally determined volumetric shrinkage data, the reference hydraulic conductivity,Lpg,(μm/min-atm) and activationenergy, ELp, (kcal mol−1) were obtained. For HeLa cells, the values ofLpg ranged from0.08 to 0.23 µm/min-atm,while ELp rangedfrom 10.9 to 37.4 kcal mol−1. For Jurkat cells these parameter values ranged from 0.05 to 0.16µm/min-atm and 9.5to 35.9 kcal mol−1. A generic optimal cooling rate equation was then used to predict the optimalrates of freezing HeLa and Jurkat cells in the presence and absence of DMSOand NPs. The post-thaw viability and apoptotic response of HeLa and Jurkatcells was further investigated by cooling cells at three rates in the presence andabsence of DMSO and NPs using a commercially available controlled rate freezer.Jurkat cells treated in this manner demonstrated an increase in their adhesiveproperties after 18 h incubation and adhered strongly to the bottom of the cultureplate. This observation prevented further analysis of Jurkat apoptotic and necroticpost-thaw responses. There was no significant effect of NPs or DMSO alone on HeLacell viability prior to freezing. The post-thaw results from HeLa cells show thatthe NPs increased the measured post-freeze apoptotic response when cooled at1 °C min−1, suggesting a possible therapeutic use of NPs in cryodestructive procedures.