Freezing and thawing of cells on a microfluidic device: a simple and time-saving experimental procedure

Abstract

ABSTRACT Developing cell cryopreservation methods on chips is not only crucial for biomedical science but also represents an innovative approach for preserving traditional cell samples. This study presents a simple method for direct cell freezing and thawing on chip, allowing for long-term storage of cells. During the freezing process, cells were injected into the microchannel along with a conventional cell cryopreservation solution, and the chip was packed using a self-sealing bag containing isopropyl alcohol and then stored in a –80°C refrigerator until needed. During the thawing process, microcolumn arrays with a spacing of 8 µm were strategically incorporated into the microfluidic chip design to effectively inhibit cells from the channel. The breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and B47D demonstrated successful thawing and growth after cryopreservation for 1 month to 1 year. These findings offer a direct cell freezing and thawing method on a microfluidic chip for subsequent experiments.