Cell shipment without a cold chain

For transportation, cells are typically shipped in a cryopreserved state, either using liquid nitrogen or dry ice. These methods present a range of logistic challenges, are expensive and often require the use of the cytotoxic cryoprotectant DMSO.
LSG Ltd is working with Coventry University to develop a novel cell shipment medium (CellShip), designed for transporting and storing cells at ambient temperatures. We have identified a defined, xeno free formulation that maintains cell viability over a period of 72 h, including transport by a commercial courier.
HEK293 cells were cultured using complete MEM at 37°C in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere. For transportation, cells were dissociated and pelleted, the culture medium was discarded, and cells were washed once using CellShip. Cells were resuspended in CellShip at 1.4 – 2.3 x 106 cells per mL in 2 mL aliquots and shipped in cryovials using a commercial courier. Temperatures were monitored using temperature data loggers. Following the 72h transport/storage period, cells were counted and viability assessed, the cells were then recovered in complete MEM at 37°C in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere. Cell numbers and viability were assessed at 24 h and 48 h.
Following the 72h shipment/storage period the mean fold-change in viable cell number was 1.03 (n=4), with a mean cell viability of 98.8%, suggesting that cell number and viability had been maintained. Temperatures recorded ranged 180
from 11C – 27.4°C, with the maximum range of 13°C in a single experiment. Following 24h recovery, cells showed a fold-change of 1.72, which increased to 2.84 by 48h, indicating that there was no lag in recovery, which is often seen following cryopreservation.
A method for transporting cells at ambient temperatures would simplify the supply chain and provide a cost-effective, xeno-free, non-toxic alternative to cryopreservation, benefitting researchers and the cell-based therapy market.