Cryoprotecting agent, cryoprotecting and cryopreserved compositions, uses thereof, and methods of cryopreservation

1 . A method of protecting a sample from freezing damage, comprising the steps of:

(i) bringing the sample to be cryopreserved into contact with a cryoprotective medium comprising a cryoprotecting agent which comprises one or more cryoprotectants to obtain a cryopreservation composition;

(ii) subsequently reducing the temperature of the cryopreservation composition to a cryopreservation temperature,

wherein:

the sample comprises human mesenchymal stem cells or human blood cells;

the cryopreservation composition comprises 5% to 15% w/w of said one or more cryoprotectants, which are selected from isomaltooligosaccharides and hydrogenated isomaltooligosaccharides, said isomaltooligosaccharides and hydrogenated isomaltooligosaccharides having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of between 850 and 1,150 Da,

the cryopreservation composition comprises from 1-8% w/w albumin; and

the cryopreservation composition comprises dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in an amount of 1-2% w/w.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of DMSO is 2% w/w.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more cryoprotectants has a polydispersity of ≥1 and ≤5.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the weight fraction of isomaltooligosaccharides having less than 3 glucose units is less than 15% w/w and/or wherein the weight fraction of isomaltooligosaccharides having more than 9 glucose units is less than 20% w/w.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said isomaltooligosaccharides and hydrogenated isomaltooligosaccharides are dextran-based.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryopreservation composition comprises from 6% to 12% w/w of said one or more cryoprotectants.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryopreservation composition comprises about 10% w/w of said one or more cryoprotectants.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryoprotecting agent comprises from 30% to 70% w/w of said one or more cryoprotectants.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryopreservation composition comprises below 5% w/w albumin.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryopreservation composition comprises from 1-5% w/w albumin.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryopreservation composition comprises about 4% w/w albumin.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mesenchymal stem cells are derived from human adipose tissue.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

(iii) thawing the sample after cryopreservation to generate a thawed sample;

(iv) directly suspending the thawed sample in a culture medium; and

(v) culturing the thawed sample in the culture medium,

wherein the method does not include washing the thawed sample prior to suspending or prior to culturing the thawed sample in the culture medium.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryopreservation composition comprises 6 to 10% w/w of said one or more cryoprotectants.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryopreservation composition comprises 10% to 12% w/w of said one or more cryoprotectants.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said cryopreservation composition does not comprise any other cryoprotectants.