Exploring the improvement of human cell cryopreservation
PhD Supervisor(s): Karen Coopman, Chris Hewitt
Contact Email:T.J.Morris@lboro.ac.uk
Undergraduate Degree: BEng Chemical Engineering with Environmental Protection (Loughborough University)
PhD Summary
An accepted gold standard of human cell cryopreservation is 10% (v/v) Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in serum. Safety concerns with DMSO/serum mean safer and optimized cryopreservation protocols using safer alternatives are needed.
The efficacy of DMSO in serum was compared with alternative cryopreservants using HOS TE-85 cells. Alternative cryoprotectants were not as effective as DMSO, suggesting a change in cryopreservation processes to enable these alternatives is needed.
Additionally the time dependent cytotoxicity was evaluated by overexposing HOS TE-85 and Bone Marrow Derived hMSC cells before and after cryopreservation. These data will be used to benchmark the cytotoxicity of alternative formulations.
Current work is focused on hMSC cells derived from fresh bone marrow, defining a cryopreservation baseline thereof and investigating the thawing parameters of cryopreservation, which is a largely misunderstood area of cryopreservation. A design-of-experiments style process will be used to analyse the key parameters and criteria for success of this important step in cryopreservation.
Publications, Presentations and Awards
Oral Presentations
Poster Presentations
Future/Career Plans
As I look towards the end of my PhD my thoughts turn to future employment. I intend to stay within research but feel that I must decide on whether to remain in academia or switch to commercial research and development based on the direction of my project. I of course wish to stay within the exciting and fascinating area of regenerative medicine.
