METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR CRYOGENIC PRESERVATION OF CELLS

1 ) A device wherein a thermally conductive backing plate is placed in contact with the underside of a microplate providing increased uniformity in the temperature reduction rate and freezing rate of the contents of all of the wells of the microplate.

2 ) The device of claim 1 wherein the thermally conductive backing plate is constructed from aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper, copper alloys, silver, silver alloys or similarly conductive materials.

3 ) The device of claim 1 wherein the backing plate and microplate are enclosed in an insulating material.

4 ) The device of claim 3 , wherein the insulating material is a synthetic foam material such as polyethylene foam, urethane foam, or styrene foam.

5 ) The device of claim 1 wherein the temperature reduction process consists of placing the device into a cold environment.

6 ) The device of claim 1 wherein the backing plate comprises a plurality of stages for the purpose of providing a uniform temperature reduction rate and freezing rate to multiple microplates.

7 ) The device of claim 1 wherein the backing plate is cooled by a regulated mechanical or electronic refrigeration device, including but not limited to a thermoelectric cooler, or by regulated contact with low temperature gas, liquid, or solid phase-change material, including but not limited to solid carbon dioxide.

8 ) The device of claim 1 wherein the microplate wells contain cells that are adherent to an interior surface of the wells.

9 ) The device of claim 1 wherein the microplate wells contain a cell suspension.

10 ) A device for freezing cells in a microplate format as described herein by FIGS. 1 and 2 .

11 ) A method for cryopreservation of suspended or adherent cells in a multi-well microplate in which the undersurface of the wells of the microplate is placed in contact with a thermally conductive material to increase uniformity of well temperatures during the cryogenic freezing process.