The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for storing, shipping and using skin equivalents made by organotypic culture. In particular, the present invention relates to systems and methods for producing, transporting, storing and using skin equivalents produced by organotypic culture at reduced temperatures, preferably from 2-8 degrees Celsius. The methods include sterile packaging of the grafts so that the sterility and integrity of the package is maintained until the time of use for grafting purposes.

Described are medical products, methods, and cryogenic bags or other containers suitable for storing and/or transporting and/or processing cellular compositions and other related materials. In certain aspects, the contents of such cryogenic bags may be warmed, mixed, and applied to a patient. Medical products described herein find particular use in treating diseased and/or damaged tissue such as in wound repair and/or bone repair. Related methods of manufacture are also described.

The present invention relates to a device for cryopreservation of a cell or tissue, including a deposition part on which a cell or tissue is to be deposited, the deposition part having a layer containing a water-soluble polymeric compound on an outermost surface of the deposition part; and a method of cryopreservation using the device.

Provided is an agent for preserving a biological component, comprising a hydrogel, the hydrogel comprising a crosslinked product formed from a compound having a plurality of hydroxyl groups and a modified hyaluronic acid having substituents capable of reacting with the hydroxyl groups to form a crosslinked structure.

The present disclosure provides tissue matrix packaging devices and methods of use. The packaging can be used to help a tissue matrix sample retain its shape when being stored or transported.

A multi-step stabilization method for connective tissue is described. Stabilized tissues can exhibit increased resistance to degradation due to enzyme activity, fatigue and storage. The multi-step method includes a first step during which the tissue can be incubated with a glycosaminoglycanase inhibitor such as a sulfated oligosaccharide, one example of which being neomycin, a second step during which the tissue can be incubated with a crosslink activator such as a carbodiimide crosslink activator and/or a crosslinking agent such as a heterobifunctional crosslinking agent and/or a phenolic compound such as a tannin, examples of which include tannic acid and pentagalloylglucose, and a third step during which the tissue can be incubated with a second crosslink activator that can be the same or different as the first crosslink activator.

Methods are provided for reducing the number of aldehyde adducts and/or crosslinks from fixed biomolecules. In some cases, subject methods include contacting a sample having aldehyde fixed biomolecules (e.g., a biological sample such as a formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue sample) with an adduct reversal agent in an amount and for a period of time sufficient to reduce the number of aldehyde fixation related adducts and/or crosslinks in the sample. In some cases, the adduct reversal agent is a compound that includes an aromatic ring and at least one of: an amine group and a proton-donating group. In some cases, the adduct reversal agent is a compound selected from the compounds of Table 1. Compositions and kits for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Methods for stabilizing blood samples, e.g., clinical blood samples, for storage or transportation before use. Exemplary applications include but are not limited to enrichment of leukocyte subtypes such as T-cells or neutrophils for cytokine and immuno-assays; isolation of progenitor cells from cord blood or peripheral blood for transplantation; isolation of fetal cells from the maternal blood for diagnosis; and sorting of circulating tumor cells for cancer detection and therapy.

A biological sample collection and storage assembly, including: at least one filtering component; and an absorbent storage component; wherein the at least one filtering component is configured to filter a received biological sample in fluid form containing free cells and other biological components to separate the free cells from the other biological components such that the other biological components flow to the absorbent storage component for subsequent testing or analysis.

Systems, methods, and compositions for cryopreservation and reconstitution of engineered tissues. The engineered tissue compositions are functional after a cryopreservation-thaw cycle For example, the tissue compositions retain their structural integrity, maintain cell-cell communication, etc. In certain embodiments, the tissue compositions exhibit synchronous contractions, secrete a hormone, secrete a cytokine, secrete an RNA, secrete a growth factor, secrete an enzyme, and/or secrete a neurotransmitter, etc. in some embodiments, engineered tissue compositions are cultured, cryopreserved, and reconstituted in a closed system.