The aim of this PoC grant was to demonstrate that macromolecular (polymer) cryoprotectants could be used to change how stem cells are cryopreserved, moving away from purely solvent based methods. More than 65,000 bone marrow stem cell transfusions are conducted globally/year, and the broader stem-cell therapy market is predicted to reach $30 billion by 2020 as new therapies emerge. A major drawback with these therapies is that the donor cells must be cryopreserved for storage/transport which is currently achieved by the addition of large volumes of organic solvent ‘antifreezes’.
During this grant we have evaluated the use of our patent-pending ‘macromolecular cryoprotectant’ to both reduce, replace and supplement the use of DMSO (a solvent) in cryopreserving cells, including stem cells. We have successfully shown that we are able to reduce the concentration of DMSO required to cryopreserve cells from the standard 10 wt % to just 2.5 wt % by supplementation with our macromolecular cryoprotectants. We have also shown that the stem cells are not just recovered but they retain their ‘stem-ness’; the ability to turn into different types of cells, which is a key marker of their function. We have also gained unique insight into the mechanisms of protection, showing it was not due to inhibiting ice growth.
We have also had produced a bespoke market research report to help realise the commercial value of our findings, validate our intellectual property position and guide routes to market and new partners (or indeed competitors). This has been produced and is proving to be invaluable in engaging and taking our technology forward. To help take this further, the applicant was awarded a Royal Society Industrial Fellowship to work with an industry partner on aspects relating to this, with the aim of commercialisation and hence we anticipate long term socio-economic benefits to emerge from our unique cryopreservation technology.
