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Cryoprotectants, sometimes called cryopreservatives, are chemicals added to samples to prevent cryoinjury. There are two types of cryopreservatives: intracellular (penetrating the cell) and extracellular (NOT penetrating the cell). The optimal concentration of cryoprotectant varies based on different cell types and cryoprotectants (and even on the condition of the samples).

Extracellular cryopreservatives : sucrose, glucose, polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) and hydroxyethyl starch(HES). They are typically used in vitrification.

Intracellular cryoprotectants: glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO), ethanol, methanol, trimethylamine acetate(TMAA) and ammonium acetate. They are typically used to preserve cells at a slow rate, like -1°C/min to -5°C/min [1].

Due to toxicity and other considerations, glycerol and DMSO are the two most widely used cryoprotectants in life science.

Here below is a table by Steven Budd from ATCC [2], which shows the type of cryoprotectants for different samples.

MetaLocker™ BioFlash Drive™ has models that are prefilled with Fibulas’ proprietary cryoprotectant, which will be released gently as sample is added into the container. No messy mixing cryoprotectant. Just by simply adding sample into MetaLocker™, users can get everything ready for freezer storage.