Qingdao Institute for Marine Technology of Tianjin University , Qingdao 266235 , P.R. China.
Biomacromolecules. 2019 Oct 14;20(10):3980-3988. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b01024. Epub 2019 Sep 24.
Cartilage tissue engineering highly relies on the ability to store and transport chondrocytes in order to be clinically successful. Cryopreservation is a most reliable technology for chondrocyte storage, but it suffers from the intrinsic toxicity of current state-of-the-art cryoprotectant, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In this work, we used the first fully zwitterionic compound-based approach for effective chondrocyte cryopreservation. A zwitterionic molecule combined with zwitterionic polymers could balance intra/extracellular osmotic stress and prevent ice formation, which were the keys of successful cryopreservation. Moreover, this zwitterionic combination showed noncytotoxicity due to its high biocompatibility, superior to cytotoxic DMSO. On the basis of these performances, chondrocytes could be well cryopreserved (∼90% post-thaw survival efficiency) for a long time without any addition of DMSO, and the recovered cells could maintain their normal functionalities. In view of the association between polymer molecular weight and cryopreservation efficacy, further mechanism of cryoprotection provided by zwitterionic molecule/polymer was proposed. This work opens a new window of opportunity for DMSO-free cryopreservation using biocompatible zwitterionic materials.
软骨组织工程高度依赖于储存和运输软骨细胞的能力，以实现临床成功。冷冻保存是一种最可靠的软骨细胞储存技术，但它受到当前最先进的冷冻保护剂二甲基亚砜（DMSO）的固有毒性的影响。在这项工作中，我们使用了基于第一个全两性离子化合物的方法来有效进行软骨细胞冷冻保存。一种两性离子分子与两性离子聚合物的结合可以平衡细胞内外的渗透压并防止冰晶形成，这是成功冷冻保存的关键。此外，由于其高度的生物相容性，这种两性离子组合表现出非细胞毒性，优于细胞毒性的 DMSO。基于这些性能，软骨细胞可以在没有任何 DMSO 添加的情况下长时间得到良好的冷冻保存（约 90%的冻后存活率），并且回收的细胞可以保持其正常功能。鉴于聚合物分子量与冷冻保存效果之间的关联，提出了两性离子分子/聚合物提供的冷冻保护进一步机制。这项工作为使用生物相容性两性离子材料进行无 DMSO 冷冻保存开辟了新的机会。
