Cryopreservation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes: Strategies, challenges, and future directions

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Marcela K. Preininger, Emory University; Monalisa Singh, Emory University; Chunhui Xu, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2016-11-01
• Publisher: Kluwer
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45457-3_10
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
• ISSN: 0065-2598
• Volume: 951
• Start Page: 123
• End Page: 135
• Grant/Funding Information: M.K.P. was supported by the Center for Pediatric Nanomedicine at Emory/Georgia Tech.; This work was supported in part by grants GA-2014-126 from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space and R21 HL123928 from the NIH.
• Keywords: Thawing; Cardiology; Cell viability; Cryopreservation; Transplantation; Contraction; Beating; Electrical coupling; Engraftment; Freezing; Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
• Research Categories: Engineering, Biomedical; Health Sciences, General

Abstract

In recent years human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) have emerged as a vital cell source for in vitro modeling of genetic cardiovascular disorders, drug screening, and in vivo cardiac regeneration research. Looking forward, the ability to efficiently cryopreserve hPSC-CMs without compromising their normal biochemical and physiologic functions will dramatically facilitate their various biomedical applications. Although working protocols for freezing, storing, and thawing hPSC-CMs have been established, the question remains as to whether they are optimal. In this chapter, we discuss our current understanding of cryopreservation appertaining to hPSC-CMs, and proffer key questions regarding the mechanical, contractile, and regenerative properties of cryopreserved hPSC-CMs.