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Putting cells to sleep for future science

Nature Biotechnology volume 32, pages 320–322 (2014)Cite this article

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To the Editor:

Central to the delivery of biotechnological and biomedical products is the ability to preserve and store biological reagents and materials with guaranteed genetic and phenotypic stability. This is vital to secure starting materials, reproducibility of manufacturing processes, consistency of the result or product and requirements for patent deposits. Although freeze-drying (lyophilization) may be used to stabilize some biological materials, including many strains of bacteria and fungi, it cannot guarantee indefinite viability and maintenance of sample quality. Cryopreservation (preservation in an aqueous state) is widely assumed to provide the answer to the question of how best to maintain master stocks of cell lines and other biological materials, but this is often a matter of faith rather than the application of qualified technology. Here we explore the current state of the 'art', with an emphasis on where research and training is urgently needed to ensure the necessary skills are maintained and to assure the applicability, efficacy and sustainability of this important technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The National Institute for Biological Standard and Control—a centre of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Cell Biology and UK Stem Cell Bank, Potters Bar, Herts, UK

    Glyn N Stacey

  2. The Scottish Association for Marine Science, Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, UK

    John G Day

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  1. Glyn N Stacey
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  2. John G Day
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Correspondence to Glyn N Stacey.

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Stacey, G., Day, J. Putting cells to sleep for future science. Nat Biotechnol 32, 320–322 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.2869

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