Peptoid Polymer Cryopreservation for Cell Viability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cryopreservation technologies for cell and tissue therapies are hindered by low cell survival rates post-thaw, toxicity of cryoprotective agents like DMSO, and batch-to-batch variation due to animal-derived sera, which limits standardized shipping, batch manufacturing, and final product release testing.
Innovation Solution
The use of peptoid polymers or their salts, comprising one or more polar peptoid monomers, to contact a population of cells before cooling them to supercooling temperatures, resulting in improved cell viability and survival rates post-warming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cryoprotective agents like DMSO are used to improve post-thaw viability, then cell survival increases, but toxicity to cells and patients increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful component (DMSO) from the cryopreservation system while retaining the essential function of ice growth blocking through alternative non-toxic CPAs and peptoid polymers, thereby eliminating toxicity while maintaining cell viability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces peptoid polymers as intermediary substances that mediate between the cooling process and cell protection, providing ice growth inhibition without the direct cellular toxicity associated with traditional CPA like DMSO
2Reliability
If animal and human derived serum are used as cryopreservation media, then natural ice prevention is achieved, but batch-to-batch variation and biohazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, variable animal and human derived sera with synthetic peptoid polymers that can be consistently manufactured, eliminating biohazard concerns and ensuring uniform composition across batches
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters from biological materials (sera) to defined synthetic polymers, transforming the cryopreservation medium from variable to controlled, thereby eliminating batch-to-batch variation
3Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional cryopreservation methods are used for long-term storage, then shipping and storage are enabled, but cell survival and recovery decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cooling to supercooling temperatures (below -70°C) before storage, creating a protected state that maintains cell viability during long-term storage and enables reliable recovery after thawing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines peptoid polymers with other cryopreservation components to create a composite cryopreservation system that achieves both long-term storage stability and high cell survival rates
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method achieves cell survival rates of at least 50% after warming, with some embodiments reaching up to 95% survival, and enhances cell proliferation compared to control populations, thereby addressing the limitations of existing cryopreservation techniques.
Implementation Method 1
cooling the population of cells to a temperature of from 0° C. to about −20° C. for a time period of at least about 3 hours to produce a population of supercooled cells
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides methods for cryopreserving a population of cells with improved cell viability. In some aspects, the method comprises contacting a population of cells with a peptoid polymer comprising one or more polar peptoid monomers, e.g., formulated in a cryoprotectant solution, and cooling the population of cells at a temperature of from 0° C. to about −20° C. for a time period of at least about 3 hours to produce a population of supercooled cells. The supercooling methods of the present invention provide excellent post-thaw cell survival and recovery. In certain embodiments, the population of cells is present in a tissue or an organ that is cryopreserved by performing the supercooling methods of the present invention.