Cryopreservation of adipose tissue for the isolation of mesenchymal stem cells
The present invention relates to a method and composition for the cryopreservation of adipose tissue with the intention to use this tissue in the culturing of stem and/or progenitor cells. The method uses a specific cryoprotection medium to prevent damage of the original tissue during the cryopreservation while still maintaining a high viability of the stem and/or progenitor cells obtained from the cryopreserved adipose tissue. Furthermore the cryoprotection medium of the present invention does not contain any kind of xenogeneic sera, a critical factor since it is the intention of that the cryopreserved tissue is used for obtaining stem and/or progenitor cells that can be used in medicine. The cryoprotection medium is characterized in that it is a solution of physiological water comprising glycerol and sucrose and/or trehalose and optionally serum albumin.
1. A method for the cryopreservation of adipose tissue, comprising the steps of:
a) transporting liposuction aspirate or adipose tissue in a package, container or tube,
b) optionally processing said liposuction aspirate, and extracting adipose tissue,
c) adding a cryoprotection medium comprising a solution of aqueous saline solution comprising glycerol in an amount from 1.6 M to 2.7 M and sucrose in an amount from 0.1 M to 0.3 M to adipose tissue of step a or step b, and,
d) cryopreservinq said adipose tissue,
wherein said cryoprotection medium further comprises serum albumin in an amount from 1.5×10 −5 M to 7.5×10 −4 M.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of adipose tissue to cryoprotection medium ranges between 2:1 and 1:2.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said adipose tissue is cryopreserved using a vitrification method.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said adipose tissue is cryopreserved using a vitrification method.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of adipose tissue to cryoprotection medium is approximately 1:1.