Happy Halloween!

 

Hi everyone, just a short note to wish you all a Happy Halloween!  I've been celebrating with my friends as you can see from these pictures - hope you have some fun too!  At XCellR8 we're all busy making preparations for our annual Fast Train event on 15 November in Manchester.  I'll be there with the team for a day of fast track training in cell culture techniques, packed with practical hints and tips, and updates in current best practice.  Our keynote speaker is Ian Freshney, author of "Culture of Animal Cells" (Wiley).  In addition to the seminars and practical demonstrations, there will be a specific and informative exhibition from cell culture suppliers.  We have a few places remaining so if you'd like to join us, register ASAP to secure a place - hope to meet you there!  For more information visit: http://www.x-cellr8.com/fasttrain2012.aspx

Catch up soon, Cellwyn.

 

Me with the prize pumpkins :)

Partying with my friends Joel and Lucy

CoolCell

We've been trying out a new piece of kit in the XCellR8 lab:

CoolCell® is a solid-state cryopreservation container that cools cells at a consistent rate of 1⁰C per minute - the optimum freezing rate for most cell types.  It works in a similar way to "Mr Frosty®", the well-known cryopreservation container that uses isopropanol to cool the cells at the same rate. Like Mr Frosty®, CoolCell® is used as an initial step to freeze cells down to -80⁰C, prior to transferring the cells to the vapour phase of a liquid nitrogen storage vessel.  However CoolCell® avoids the need to use isopropanol, and claims that the cooling rate is more consistent and reproducible due to the patented solid-state material used.  We also like the fact that it doesn’t freeze your fingers when you open it to transfer the cells to permanent storage! It's available in a range of funky colours - I thought I looked quite fetching with the purple one, as pictured here J FYI, the 2 containers are similar in price. 

We’re currently doing a side-by-side comparison of the 2 containers using 2 cell types: a robust mouse fibroblast cell line (3T3) and a more sensitive cell type – primary human epidermal keratinocytes.  Cells cryopreserved in both containers (triplicate vials) all gave >90% viability on thawing.  So far the growth performance post-cryopreservation also looks similar in both containers.  We’ll be completing the study this week.

Mr Frosty® is manufactured by Nalgene and available through a number of well-known cell culture suppliers – a Google search will show you lots of alternatives!  CoolCell® is manufactured by Biocision (www.biocision.com).

For more hints and tips on cell culture including the latest innovations, join us at XCellR8’s Fast Train 2012 event in Manchester on 15 November:  http://www.x-cellr8.com/fasttrain2012.aspx.  Register before 30 September to catch the early bird rate.  Hope to see you there!

Woohoo, it's the Bank holiday weekend!

I've topped up our liquid nitrogen storage tank to keep our cells at a cool -196C while I'm out in the sunshine this weekend.  At this temperature, metabolic activity ceases and in theory the cells can be stored indefinitely.  It's really important that cells are stored in the vapour phase of a nitrogen store and not in the liquid, for 3 reasons: First, safety: small droplets of liquid can enter the threads of the vial cap, and cause the vial to explode upon thawing, especially in older designs of cryovials.  Second, to avoid contamination: it may be hard to imagine, but cases have been documented of mycoplasma contamination spreading between vials stored in the liquid phase.  And third: cost.  Liquid nitrogen is a major expense for cell culture labs.Why fill the storage vessel to the brim with liquid nitrogen, when using only a small percentage of the volume would actually do a better job?....
OK, on that note I will sign off for the week.  You all have a fab bank holiday weekend, and we'll catch up next week with more cell culture info and tips!  Cheers, Cellwyn.

Why cells need specialised freezing techniques

If cells were placed into a standard -20C or -80C freezer without any prior treatment, their delicate membranes and organelles would be destroyed by the formation of ice crystals, which would literally break the cell apart upon thawing.  This is why specialised freezing (cryopreservation) techniques are critical and have been developed to minimise the formation of intracellular ice crystals.  Cryopreservation technology involves the use of a cryoprotectant, typically dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which stabilises the intracellular components, disrupts the lattice structure of ice crystals, and slowly draws water out of the cell during the freezing process.  The use of a cryoprotectant is combined with a slow cooling rate (typically 1 degree Celsius per minute), to minimise ice crystal formation and encourage the extracellular migration of water.  This technique helps to optimise cell viability upon thawing.

Freezing cells

Today I've frozen down some cells for a new project - the first time I've frozen down my own supply, so fingers crossed!  Cryopreservation is an essential technique in order to maintain a long term, consistent supply of cells.  Continuous culture of cell lines, without cryoprservation, leads to a number of problems including genetic drift, loss of key characteristics and an increased probability of microbial contamination.  So learning to cryopreserve cells effectively is a critical skill in cell culture.  Over the next few days I'll be sharing hints and tips with you as I learn more about it here at XCellR8......

First day with XCellR8 today.  They're very friendly and welcoming, I'm going to like it here :)  Can't wait to get started in the lab, once I've completed my introductory health and safety training!