Abstract
Procedures are being developed which use isolated articular cartilage (AC) chondrocytes to restore damaged articular surfaces. The availability of isolated human chondrocytes for transplantation may be increased by low-temperature storage (banking). At present, no single method of freezing chondrocytes has been proven to be optimal. In this project, two different freezing protocols, I and II, were compared. Protocol I used freezing rates of −1° C/min down to a temperature of −40°C. Protocol II used a freezing rate of −1° C/min down to −10° C and faster rates thereafter. Cells were stored for 2 weeks at −196°C. Survival and function of the cells after thawing were evaluated by histological examination and determination of 35S-and 3H-thymidine incorporation after 1 and 2 weeks of high-density monolayer culture. Cells frozen with protocol 1 showed better function and survival (99.75%) than cells frozen with protocol II (85%). Both groups showed slowing of metabolism and replication after freezing when compared with controls. We conclude that controlled freezing of adult human chondrocytes at rates of −1° C/min improves survival. Banking of human AC chondrocytes may be feasible using protocol I, although some questions regarding the long-term behaviour of human AC chondrocytes after cryopreservation remain to be answered.
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van Steensel, M.A.M., Homminga, G.N., Buma, P. et al. Optimization of cryopreservative procedures for human articular cartilage chondrocytes. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 113, 318–321 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426179
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00426179