Abstract
Application of the original vitrification protocol used for pieces of heart valves to intact heart valves has evolved over time. Ice-free cryopreservation by Protocol 1 using VS55 is limited to small samples (1–3 mL total volume) where relatively rapid cooling and warming rates are possible. VS55 cryopreservation typically provides extracellular matrix preservation with approximately 80% cell viability and tissue function compared with fresh untreated tissues. In contrast, ice-free cryopreservation using VS83, Protocols 2 and 3, permits preservation of large samples (80–100 mL total volume) with several advantages over conventional cryopreservation methods and VS55 preservation, including long-term preservation capability at −80 °C; better matrix preservation than freezing with retention of material properties; very low cell viability, reducing the risks of an immune reaction in vivo; reduced risks of microbial contamination associated with use of liquid nitrogen; improved in vivo functions; no significant recipient allogeneic immune response; simplified manufacturing process; increased operator safety because liquid nitrogen is not used; and reduced manufacturing costs. More recently, we have developed Protocol 4 in which VS55 is supplemented with sugars resulting in reduced concerns regarding nucleation during cooling and warming. This method can be used for large samples resulting in retention of cell viability and permits short-term exposure to −80 °C with long-term storage preferred at or below −135 °C.
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Acknowledgments
This work was funded in part by the US Army Medical Research and Development Command (contract no. W81XWH-16-C-0074). The views, opinions, and findings contained in this report are those of the authors and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy, or decision unless so designated by other documentation. The commercial uses of protocols disclosed in this work are subject to several issued US patents (6,194,137; 6,596,531; 6,740,484; 7,157,222; 8,440,390), international patents (available upon request), and pending unpublished patents.
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Brockbank, K.G.M., Chen, Z., Greene, E.D., Campbell, L.H. (2021). Vitrification of Heart Valve Tissues. In: Wolkers, W.F., Oldenhof, H. (eds) Cryopreservation and Freeze-Drying Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2180. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0783-1_31
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0783-1_31
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