The development of simple but effective storage protocols for adult stem cells will greatly enhance their use and utility in tissue-engineering applications. Cryopreservation has shown to be most promising but is a fairly complex process, necessitating the use of chemicals called cryoprotective agents (CPAs), freezing equipment, and obviously, storage in liquid nitrogen. The purpose of this chapter is to present a general overview of cryopreservation storage techniques and the optimal protocols/results obtained in our laboratory for long-term storage of adult stem cells using freezing storage.
Keywords: Adipogenesis; Apoptosis; Cryopreservation; Cryoprotective agents; Dimethylsulfoxide; Flow cytometry; Histochemical analysis; Osteogenesis; Polyvinylpyrrolidone.