CellTravel: An injectable, defined medium for cool or ambient temperature transport and short-term storage of human mesenchymal stem cells
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
- Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Application, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
- Laboratory of Cancer Research, University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Abstract
Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly used for the treatment of various diseases. However, the treatment cost remains relatively high. One reason for this is the complexity and expense involved in the transportation and use of MSCs. Currently, most of the transport of stem cells from the production site to the hospital is carried out under cold conditions with CO2 ice or liquid nitrogen. This transportation is difficult and costly, especially from one country to another. At the site of use, the use of products is also complicated, requiring cells to be properly thawed and sometimes washed to remove cold storage medium before use. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the transport and storage medium of MSCs at room and cool temperature (2-8 oC).
Methods: MSCs from adipose tissue (ADSCs) and from the human umbilical cord (UCMSCs) were sufficiently proliferated to serve the research under appropriate conditions. The cells were suspended in an injectable, and chemically defined storage medium (CellTravel) at a density of 5.106 cells/mL. Cells were stored at room temperature (RT) and cool temperature 2-8 oC. The cell viability and viable cell counts were monitored after 12, 24, 36, and 48 h of storage. After 48 h, the cells were cultured to assess cell proliferation in vitro. After 72 h of culture, the cells were re-assessed for cell markers using flow cytometry.
Results: The results showed that in CellTravel, cells maintained a high survival rate regardless of preservation at RT or 2-8 oC up to 48 h. After 48 h, the cells maintained a high viability when cultured in vitro. The cells exhibited the particular phenotype of MSCs, similar to that before preservation.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that cells can be transported at RT or 2-8 oC for up to 48 h in CellTravel medium with a survival rate of > 80%. This suggests that cells can be transported from one place to another and from one country to another at RT or 2-8 oC, and the cells at the destination can be used directly for treatment.