2. Product Questions

How long does it take to do an encapsulation?

Depending on the format between 10-30 minutes

How do we release the cells?

We supply you with a physiological buffer which dissolves the gel in a few minutes

How long does it take to release the cells/tissue?

Usually about 5-10 minutes

Do I need to replace the medium on the cells?

No, once the cells are encapsulated and stored at room temperature they become quiescent and there is no need to change medium, remove waste products

 

Have your products been used in a human?

Alginates have been used in humans on many occasions, although we haven’t done this ourselves

 

Are your products FDA approved?

Our supplier has confidential DMFs on file with the FDA covering their administration to humans by IV, IP and IM routes.

 

What cells and tissues have you tried your technology with?

The list keeps growing, and includes: PBMC, T-cells, B-cells, monocytes, Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), Umbilical Cord-derived MSCs, Limbal Stromal Stem cells, Corneal Stromal Fibroblasts, Corneal stromal tissue constructs, iPSC-derived cortical neurons, Cardiomyocytes, Kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells, iPSC-derived monocyte precursor cells, Dermal keratinocytes, Dermal fibroblasts, HEK-293 cells, HeLa, Jurkats, C2C12 cells, Mouse Primary skin, 3D skin constructs, iPSC-derived hemangioblasts, Cell spheroids (MSCs, C2C12 cells), Colorectal cancer organoids, Urine-derived epithelial cells, and neonatal brain tissue have all been successfully preserved

 

Do you need to remove the gel before using the cells?

Not necessarily, although most of our customers do release the cells by dissolving the gel. The gel is porous so cells can be kept in it under normal culture conditions if this is preferred.

 

Has whole blood been encapsulated?

Yes it has

 

How long can the cells or tissues be preserved for?

Typically our customers want to store cells for between 3-7 days, since this allows you to reach anywhere in the world; however longer storage up to 21 days is possible depending on cell/tissue type

 

Can I have a sample?

Please call us to discuss your interests and we can arrange a way to send a sample if necessary

 

How can I access your products?

Drop us an email or call/order from the website.

 

How does the technology work?

We preserve cells by encapsulating them in an alginate hydrogel and storing them at hypothermic temperatures (below 37°C). The gel helps to stabilise the cell membrane at the lower temperature, which otherwise would become fragile and rupture.

 

Does it work with T-Cells?

Yes, it works very well with T cells.

 

How much does it cost?

It’s surprisingly affordable for such a great solution! The starting point for our BeadReadyᵀᴹ product is £60 per encapsulation

 

How do you suggest we ship our encapsulated cells?

We suggest shipping at room temperature, however some cell & tissue types require slightly different conditions. Contact customer support for more details

 

What happens to the gel in the hold of a plane?

Nothing, the gels are compatible with aircraft transport.

 

Does the gel melt at high temperatures?

It does not

 

How do you store the encapsulated cells?

This depends on the cell type and the format in which you want to store them; cells in suspension are often stored in beads within transport tubes, Monolayers can be stored in situ within cell culture plasticware.

 

Is the gel toxic?

No. Alginates are non-toxic and safe to use, and are also safe for administration to humans

 

What are the gels made from?

Our gels are made from highly purified alginate hydrogel formulations

 

Why not freeze cells?

Freezing and thawing cells can be very harmful to them; many cells can’t be frozen at all without catastrophic loss of viability and/or functionality

 

Are the cells affected by the storage process?

No, the cells are kept safe at hypothermic temperatures in their cushion of alginate which protects the cell membrane

 

Is any specialist equipment required?

No special equipment is needed other than normal laboratory equipment used in cell culture; our kits include all the reagents you need for encapsulation and dissolution of the gel

 

How scalable is the process?

It’s very scalable, and we have already scaled up to a rate of 3,500 beads per minute with no problems. Please talk to us about your specific needs

 

Does it work on cells in suspension?

Yes, and we usually recommend our CytoStorᵀᴹ format for this purpose

 

Does it work on plated cells?

Very well indeed, and we suggest our WellReadyᵀᴹ product for plated cells or 3D structures

 

Is it compatible with cell tissue culture inserts?

Yes, we have used this with several different types of insert including Alvatex

 

When shipping, will the movement of the container disrupt my cells?

Absolutely not – and this is one of the great advantages of encapsulating your cells within the gel. As well as providing biological protection it also protects against the shear stresses involved in shipping

 

Does the product contain any animal products?

No, the source material is a seaweed and is completely free of animal-derived products

 

Does the product contain DMSO?

No, there is absolutely no need to add any DMSO or other noxious preservatives for storing your cells

 

Will it change the function of my cells after storage?

No, what goes in to the gel is what comes out!

 

What is the shelf life?

The shelf life of the gel components is measured in years, so there is no need to use our products within some limited time span

 

Is the product made under GMP conditions?

Our raw materials are made under GMP conditions

 

What density can I store my cells at?

The only limit on this is due to the size of the cells themselves. For instance, we recommend a maximum concentration of about 30 million cells/ml for MSCs (quite large cells), whereas T cells are fine at 100 million cells/ml or higher

 

Do the cells require a gaseous exchange?

No, once the cells are encapsulated and stored at room temperature they become quiescent and there is no need for gas exchange

 

What medium should I use in storage vessels?

Whatever medium your cells are happiest in, it really doesn’t matter as far as the properties of the gel are concerned

 

Is the product compatible with different cell culture substrates?

Yes, all kinds of cell culture substrates tested so far are compatible with the gel products

 

Do I need to use serum in the media for storage?

No, we offer Serum-free transport medium supplements that allow you to store your cells in the absence of serum for easier transport across national borders