Patent ID: 6176089
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: A01N,C12N

Abstract:
A method of cryopreservation of a bioartificial organ comprising the steps of:(a) incubating a bioartificial organ in a cryopreservative solution,(i) wherein the bioartificial organ comprises(A) cells macroencapsulated by(B) a biocompatible semipermeable membrane or jacket, wherein the cells are either suspended in a liquid medium or immobilized within a matrix, andwherein the pore size of the membrane or jacket permits diffusion of a biologically active molecule out of the bioartificial organ, and(ii) wherein the bioartificial organ is incubated for a time sufficient for the cryopreservation solution to permeate the cells of the bioartificial organ;(b) placing said bioartificial organ in a freezing container with a minimum volume of cryopreservative solution sufficient to wet the bioartificial organ within said freezing container; and(c) freezing the bioartificial organ in the freezing container of step (b), whereupon thawing of the bioartificial organ, the cells encapsulated in the bioartificial organ of step (a) are viable and the structural integrity of the semipermeable membrane of the bioartificial organ of step (a) is maintained.