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FAQs

Are BioLife preservations solutions really better than other alternatives?
With which cell lines have your solutions been evaluated?
What roles do apoptosis and necrosis play in preservation?
How can I measure improvement over my previous protocols?
There are three different CryoStor™ solutions, which one is right for me?
How do I use HypoThermosol® and CryoStor™?
How will better preservation improve my process?
How can I order BioLife products?

Are BioLife preservations solutions really better than other alternatives?

We have demonstrated through reports in the peer-reviewed literature and numerous independent and internal comparative studies that our HypoThermosol ® and CryoStor™ product lines are superior to traditional preservation solutions. Some of these "traditional" solutions were designed nearly 20 years ago without the advantages of modern day molecular biology, and their formulations have remained relatively unchanged. If you would like to prove to yourself that our solutions can facilitate enhanced preservation in your application, please contact us to place an order. email: info@biolifesolutions.com or phone at: 1-866-4BIOLIFE

With which cell lines have your solutions been evaluated?

Over the past several years, there have been aggressive evaluations and utilization of our technology. The fact that BioLife's preservation solution technology has been highly effective in many different cell types, corroborates our theory and the universality behind the design of preservation solutions based on cell biology at low temperature.

The following is a brief list of evaluated cell types. We are continually evaluating our solutions with new cell types, so if your specific cell or tissue is not listed, please Contact Us to see how our solutions can work for you.

What roles do apoptosis and necrosis play in preservation?

BioLife's technology was founded on our novel understanding of low temperature biology and the initiation of necrosis and apoptosis in response to temperature change. During the course of our research we noted that following hypothermic preservation cells would appear viable on the first day upon return to normothermic conditions, but over a several day period, viability would decrease incrementally. This phenomenon, known as preservation-induced apoptosis, exhibits a protracted "death slide", while naturally occurring gene-regulated apoptosis is measured in hours not days. Using our knowledge, we have been able to enhance our solutions with the goal of mediating preservation-induced apoptosis.

Necrosis, or pathological cell death, also appears to be a major contributor to cell death following extended preservation. Through our efforts to understand preservation induced apoptosis, we have also been able to reduce the stress on the cells during the preservation interval, which reduces the premature activation of necrosis and apoptosis.

How can I measure the improvement over my previous protocols?

As noted above, it is important to remember that preservation-induced apoptosis is a drawn out "death-slide" occurring over the course of many hours to days. When measuring any preservative's effectiveness, it is critical that one examine their cellular populations over the course of several days, not just immediately post-storage.

There are three different CryoStor™ solutions, which one is right for me?

All of the CryoStor™ solutions are very effective for the cryopreservation of primary cell systems providing for greater cell recovery (number and viability) following thawing. CryoStor CS5 is the most widely utilized however CS10 and DLite are also popular. Your decision comes down to what level of DMSO your system will tolerate (are you concerned with DMSO and looking to reduce it or not) and what type of cells you are cryopreserving (some cell systems such as hepatocytes do very well in CS10 and less so in CS5).

With that said, the majority of cell systems respond very well to all of three solutions especially the CS5 giving the end user the improved cell viability, number, and function. In addition our research team has a great deal of experience with a number of cells and tissues and would be happy to discuss with you specific cell types and preservation solutions. Request a consultation here: Contact Us.

How do I use HypoThermosol® and CryoStor™

It's important to remember that both our HypoThermosol ® and CryoStor™ lines are ready-to-use products which require no mixing or other added components. They are designed to fit directly into most existing protocols. Our Usages (PDF) document details just a few of the suggested uses. Additionally, in our Resources section we provide several sample protocols and quick reference guides.

How will better preservation improve my process?

By improving preservation, cells and tissues are able to be utilized more quickly for your research, making your lab time more efficient.

From an evolutionary perspective, hypothermic and cryogenic preservation often artificially select for cells best able to withstand the rigors of storage. This artificial selection can lead to genetic drift which could potentially skew trial/research results. By using a solution that delivers enhanced viability and recovery, you can limit the effects of selection and drift, thus achieving more accurate experimental results.

How can I order BioLife products?

If you are an existing customer and would like to place an order, please contact us at (866) 4-BIOLIFE or you can fax your Domestic Order Form (PDF) / Intl Order Form (PDF) to (607) 687-6683. For new domestic customers, you can establish an account by completing and faxing us the New Customer Account Form (PDF). New international customers can use the form: New Intl Customer Account Form (PDF).

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