评估几种化学冷冻保护剂及其组合对 NK 细胞冷冻保存的效果

UNLABELLED: Natural killer (NK) cells are being developed as therapeutic agents targeting hematological malignancies and solid tumors.

However, the lack of an optimal cryopreservation medium poses a significant challenge, as cryopreservation often reduces NK cell recovery, viability, and function, hindering their use in cellular therapies.

This study investigated the effects of varying concentrations of Dimethyl sulfoxide (Me 2 SO), Proline, Trehalose, and Dextran 40 commonly used in cell cryopreservation on NK cell recovery, viability, and cytotoxic activity.

Additionally, we conducted a screening of 19 cryoprotective agents (CPAs) to enhance NK cell cytotoxic activity after freeze-thawing.

We found that reducing Me 2 SO concentration significantly decreased NK cell cytotoxic activity, and the combination of Proline, Trehalose, and Dextran 40 was insufficient to prevent this decline. A negative interaction effect between Trehalose and Dextran 40 on NK cell cytotoxic activity was also observed. Screening results identified Betaine, Glycine, Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), α-tocopherol, Poloxamer 188, and Creatine as effective in enhancing NK cell cytotoxic activity after freeze-thawing.

These findings provide new insights into the interaction effects of CPAs on NK cell cytotoxic activity and contribute to improving NK cell quality in pharmaceutical manufacturing. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10. 1007/s10616-025-00865-w.