A composition according to an embodiment includes a first population of transformed mammalian cells with a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), the first population having a TGF-β expression level of 0.65 ng/10.sup.5 cells/24 hours or more, and a second population of mammalian cells which are not transformed with the transforming growth factor beta, the second population having an expression level of a thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1) expression level of 31 ng/10.sup.5 cells/24 hours or more.

The present invention relates to a method of improving the viability of macrophages subjected to cryopreservation, particularly for macrophages which are to be used in therapy, wherein the method comprises a step of maintaining the macrophages at a temperature of 2-12° C. for at least 30 minutes during either freezing or thawing procedures. Following the holding step during cooling, a cooling rate of 1 to 5° C. is used until the macrophages in a medium are frozen. For thawing the macrophages, a warming rate of 1 to 5° C. per minute is used until a temperature of 35-37° C. is reached. The present invention further relates to the cryopreserved macrophages, and the thawed macrophages produced by such methods. The technique may provide macrophages that are GMP-compliant and have a viability of at least 60%.

Provided is a method for freezing a cell aggregate including neural cells. Provided is a method for freezing a cell aggregate including neural cells and having a three-dimensional structure, which comprises following steps (1) and (2): (1) soaking the cell aggregate including neural cells in a cryopreservation solution at 0° C. to 30° C. prior to freezing to prepare a cryopreservation solution-soaked cell aggregate; and (2) freezing the cell aggregate including neural cells in vapor phase of a liquid nitrogen container having a temperature of −150° C. or less.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for the cryopreservation of stem cells, such as stem-cell derived retinal pigment epithelial cells, that have been seeded onto and cultured on a substrate, such as a polymeric substrate. Such cryopreserved stem cells are useful for cell therapies, such as treatment of ocular damage or disease.

A cryogenic fluid composition may include water (H20), and at least one salt. The ratio of water to the at least one salt is approximately between 1% and 6% salt with the remainder water. A cryogenic fluid production device may include a cylindrical housing, and a heat exchanger disposed within the cylindrical housing. The heat exchanger may include an inlet, a channel, and an outlet. A coolant may be conveyed through the inlet, the channel, and the outlet of the heat exchanger. The cryogenic fluid production device may further include an interior wall, and an auger disposed within the interior wall of the heat exchanger.

A method, device, computer program and related immunoassay are disclosed for assessing the efficacy of a statin selected from, for example, selected from RvT1 (7,13,20-trihydroxy-8,10,14,16Z,18-docosapentaenoic acid), RvT2 (7,12,13-trihydroxy-8,10,14,16Z,19Z-docosapentaenoic acid), RvT3 (7,8,13-trihydroxy-9,11,14,16Z,19Z-docosapentaenoic acid) and RvT4 (7,13-dihydroxy-8,10,14,16Z,19Z-docosapentaenoic acid), for use in the treatment of an inflammatory condition in an individual patient, which comprises measuring the levels of at least one 13-series resolvin in biological samples obtained from the patient before and after administration of the statin, wherein an increase in the level of the resolvin after administration of the statin is indicative of efficacy of the statin. Also disclosed is a method of storing a biological sample to preserve lipid mediators in the sample comprising placing the sample in an organic solvent and storing the sample at a temperature of ≤−75° C.

Provided are a cryopreservation liquid for bovine reproductive cells such as bovine sperms and a cryopreservation method thereof. Adopted is a cryopreservation liquid comprising: 0.3 to 0.9 w/w % of an amphoteric polyelectrolyte (an antifreeze polyamino acid), which is ε-poly-L-lysine having a number average molecular weight of 1,000 to 20,000 wherein 50 to 99 mol % of amino groups of the ε-poly-L-lysine are blocked as carboxylated by having been reacted with the succinic anhydride; and 2 to 4 w/w % of glycerol, as dissolved in a physiological solution. A preferred embodiment of the cryopreservation method comprises steps of: primary diluting, in which bovine semen is diluted to 2.5 to 10 times with a physiological solution and kept at 2 to 8° C.; and secondary diluting, in which the bovine semen is diluted to 5 to 20 times while being kept at 2 to 8° C., by adding dropwise a physiological solution containing the amphoteric polyelectrolyte (antifreeze polyamino acid) and glycerol to a suspension obtained in the primary diluting.

A cryopreservation process includes combining a cryopreservation composition with a biological sample. The cryopreservation composition includes at least one glycerol ester component. The cryopreservation process also includes then cooling the cryopreservation composition with the biological sample to a cryopreservation temperature. The cryopreservation composition aids in cryopreserving the biological sample at the cryopreservation temperature. A cryopreservation composition includes at least one glycerol ester component. A cryopreserved system includes a biological sample in a cryopreservation composition at a cryopreservation temperature. The cryopreservation composition includes at least one glycerol ester component.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for tissue, such as an allograft, storage and preservation for extended periods of time at room temperature in a sterile tissue culture chamber. The invention further provides a process for maintaining the sterility of tissue using the apparatus as described.

A system is provided for transporting, handling and monitoring samples in a temperature-controlled storage environment. The system includes a handheld carrier configured to transfer samples to and from a temperature-controlled storage station and a temperature-controlled container for receiving and housing one or more carriers. The carrier includes an integrated sample identification and temperature sensing capability configured to monitor a thermal history of one or more samples during transport, handling and storage including as the samples are conveyed between the temperature-controlled storage environment and the temperature-controlled container. That is, the carrier is adapted to be held in the hand during use. A carrier for conveying and monitoring samples during transport, handling and storage is also provided.