What is the Best Temperature for Stem Cell Preservation?

Do you know that stem cells are used to treat many diseases worldwide? Expecting parents are often confused about stem cell banking’s storage and the benefits it offers. Apparently, when they understand the benefits and choose stem cell preservation, they feel secure.

Stem cell preservation techniques and storage may feel overwhelming at first, but it is quite a straightforward process. In this blog, we’ll understand and discuss stem cell banking and their ideal storage temperatures.

What is Cord blood?

Cord blood refers to blood collected from the umbilical cord after the baby is born. Cord blood is known to have rich stem cells, which are used to treat severe blood-related diseases like leukemia, anemia, and thalassemia. Stem cell preservation is one of the best steps expecting parents can take to safeguard their little ones.

Cryopreservation for Stem Cell Storage:

Stem cells are usually preserved using Cryopreservation, which involves cooling cells to extremely low temperatures, ideally from -80˚C to -196˚C. Cryopreservation suspends cellular metabolism to store cord blood stem cells for a long period. By utilizing a proper freezing medium with the correct cryoprotectants, researchers can increase the lifespan of cells without damaging their medicinal qualities.

Different stem cells respond differently to cryopreservation techniques depending on their biological structures. This may affect cell quality and lifespan. Depending on their characteristics, different stem cells are often preserved at varied temperatures. Researchers are advised to follow cryopreservation methods for stem cell storage strictly.

Ideal Temperatures for stem cell preservation and cooling

Although all cryoprotective solutions and additives respond to temperatures differently, all stem cells are ideally kept in cryo-freezing containers overnight at -80°C. It allows the stem cells to freeze at approximately -1°C/minute.

It is ideal for freezing most stem cell types. After the overnight preservation and freezing, the stem cells are transferred to another cryoprotective agent at even low temperatures of -135°C. Research studies suggest that the short-term storage of cells, for less than one month at -80°C, is acceptable, but it should be minimized to ensure maximum cell stability.

Cells stored at -80°C will decay and degrade as time passes. The decline in stability and quality is dependent on cell type, exposure to thermal cycling, and transient warming events such as repeated opening of the freezer door.

Cryogenic vials are designed for storing biological materials, such as human or animal cells. For long-term stem cell preservation and optimal use, cryogenic vials should be stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at -135°C to -196°C.

Conclusion

Several studies on different cell types have shown that temperatures between 4°C and 16°C are suitable for short-term stem cell preservation. However, at these temperatures, stem cells can last only 7 to 10 days. Many have also proved that temperatures above room temperature(21–24°C) are detrimental and damage the cells. So, it is advised to store stem cells at extremely low temperatures (-80˚C to -196˚C) depending on cell structure, biological characteristics, and type.

Cryoviva is known for providing the best stem cell banking facilities. We use advanced techniques for collecting and preserving cord blood to retain its medicinal value, increase stem cell survival, and deliver for severe disease treatment. If you wish to store cord blood and want to know more about stem cell storage, visit us today!