Abstract: The high cost, complex infrastructure, and strict temperature requirements of cryopreservation remain significant bottlenecks for biobanks worldwide. To address these challenges, researchers from the University of Debrecen evaluated lyophilisation (freeze-drying) as a potential room-temperature alternative for storing whole human cells. By loading cultured B-lymphoblastoid cells into a trehalose-based protectant and flash-freezing them, the team successfully developed a rapid, six-hour drying method. This approach bypasses the need for continuous ultra-low energy infrastructure and provides a scalable way to preserve biological materials with minimal equipment dependency.
The results proved remarkably promising for nucleic acid applications, yielding a high RNA Integrity Number (RIN) of 9.8 after two months of room-temperature storage, virtually identical to untreated controls. While extensive RNA sequencing confirmed that overall library complexity and gene coverage were preserved, the process did alter the expression of 28 specific genes, likely due to trace residual moisture. Crucially, because the protocol was unable to recover intact, viable cells, it is not currently suitable for downstream cell therapies. Nevertheless, this study offers a compelling proof-of-concept for cost-effective DNA and RNA biobanking, opening the door for future validation using freshly isolated human tissues.
Get the full article here: https://www.biobanking.com/storing-cells-at-room-temperature/