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!
