| abstract |
This invention is directed to cryopreservation of cultured tissue equivalents made by in vitro technology. The invention involves immersing a cultured tissue equivalent in a cooled cryoprotectant solution, agitating the cryoprotectant solution and the immersed cultured tissue to achieve effective penetration of the cryoprotectant solution into the cultured tissue equivalent, and then freezing the cultured tissue at a high freezing rate. The cryopreserved cultured tissue equivalent may be stored for indefinite periods of time prior to use. The cultured tissue equivalent is an in vitro model of the equivalent human tissue, which, when retrieved from storage can be used for transplantation or implantation in vivo or for screening compounds in vitro. |