Sericin-Based Cryopreservation Composition for Cell Viability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cryopreservation methods for cells using serum or serum-derived components are costly, inefficient, and pose risks of contamination and viral infection, with serum being unnecessary for cell preservation, and existing alternatives like amino acids and saccharides do not provide sufficient cryoprotective effects.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising sericin and one or more components selected from amino acids and saccharides, which can be used without serum or serum-derived components, providing an effective cryoprotective effect equivalent to serum-based methods while simplifying the freezing process and reducing contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If serum is used for cryopreservation, then cell preservation effectiveness is improved, but cost increases and risk of viral contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell preservation effectivenessVSAvoidviral contamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and isolates only the necessary cryoprotective components (sericin, amino acids, saccharides) from serum, eliminating unnecessary serum components that carry viral contamination risks. This selective extraction maintains cell preservation effectiveness while removing harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive serum with cheaper, synthetic alternatives (sericin, amino acids, saccharides) that can be produced without biological contamination risks. These components provide equivalent or superior cryoprotective effects at lower cost and without viral risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If serum is used for cryopreservation, then cell preservation effectiveness is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell preservation effectivenessVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces expensive serum with cheaper synthetic components (sericin, amino acids, saccharides) that can be produced at lower cost through chemical synthesis rather than biological extraction, significantly reducing preservation costs while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters from complex serum components to simplified synthetic components (specific ratios of sericin, amino acids, and saccharides), achieving equivalent cryoprotective effects at lower material cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If amino acids and saccharides are used for cryopreservation, then cost is reduced, but cryoprotective effect is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidcryoprotective effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite cryopreservation composition combining sericin, amino acids, and saccharides in specific ratios. This composite approach synergistically enhances the cryoprotective effect beyond what individual components can achieve alone, while maintaining cost advantages over serum.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes the concentration parameters of each component (sericin at 0.01-10% wt, amino acids at 0.01-10% wt, saccharides at 0.01-10% wt) to achieve maximum cryoprotective effect, transforming insufficient individual components into an effective composite system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If programmed freezer is used for freezing, then freezing control is improved, but procedure complexity increases and survival rate decreases over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreezing controlVSAvoidprocedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention incorporates preliminary protective action by including sericin and other cryoprotective components in the composition before freezing occurs. This preliminary protection allows simpler freezing procedures without programmed freezers to achieve good results, as the components pre-protect cells against freezing damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces sericin and other components as intermediary substances that mediate between the freezing process and cell structures. These intermediaries protect cells during freezing, allowing simpler freezing procedures to achieve results previously requiring complex programmed freezers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The composition achieves excellent cryoprotective effects, maintaining cell viability and stability over long periods without the need for serum, reducing the time required for cell growth and minimizing the risk of viral contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a silk protein, sericin, has been confirmed to have a cryoprotective effect on cells

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCryoprotective effect:

Implementation Method 2

the resulting suspension is sealed into tubes or ampoules for freezing and the sealed products are cooled rapidly at a rate of about −1° C./min using a programmed freezer and ultimately stored in liquid nitrogen (−196° C.)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFreezing: Freezing

Data Source

PatentUS9055739B2Compositions for cryopreservation of cells
Publication Date: 2015.06.16 SEIREN CO LTD

AI summary

A composition for the cryopreservation of cells according to the present invention at least comprises sericin and one or more components selected from the group consisting of amino acids and saccharides. Further, a method for the cryopreservation of cells according to the present invention comprises the steps of placing target cells in the abovementioned composition for the cryopreservation of cells and cryopreserving them. According to the composition for the cryopreservation of cells of the present invention, cells can be cryopreserved over a long period of time without the use of serum and components derived from serum.