Table 1.
Cryoprotective agents in DMSO-free cryopreservation.
| CPA | Mode of action | Cell-penetrating/non-penetrating |
|---|---|---|
| α-tocopherol | ROS scavenger; Protection from oxidative stress | Non-penetrating |
| Albumin | Cell membrane stabilization | Non-penetrating |
| Acetamide | Inhibition of ice crystal formation | Cell-penetrating |
| Ammonium acetate | Maintenance of cellular ATP | Cell-penetrating |
| Trehalose | Membrane stabilization; water replacement | Non-penetrating |
| Dextran | Extracellular ice crystal protection | Non-penetrating |
| Glycerol | Intracellular cell protection; control of ice crystal growth | Cell-penetrating |
| Glucose | Membrane stabilization | Non-penetrating |
| Sucrose | Membrane stabilization | Non-penetrating |
| Trimethylamine oxide | Water attraction; maintenance of osmotic balance; inhibition of ice crystal growth | Cell-penetrating |
| Propylene glycol | Colligative cell protection | Cell-penetrating |
| Methanol | Water bonding; inhibition of ice crystal growth | Cell-penetrating |
| Ehylene glycol | Depression of freezing temperature; reduction in cell shrinkage; control of ice crystal growth | Cell-penetrating |
| Ectoine | Preferential exclusion | Non-penetrating |
| Formamide | Intracellular ice inhibition | Cell-penetrating |
| Polyvinylpyrrolidone | Colligative cell protection | Non-penetrating |
| Soybean lecithin | Membrane stabilization | Non-penetrating |
| Hydroxyethyl starch | Water absorption, glassy-state preservation | Non-penetrating |
| Poly-L-lysine | Ice crystal growth inhibition | Non-penetrating |
| Poloxamer 188 | Cell membrane stabilization | Non-penetrating |
| Glycine | Maintenance of plasma membrane structural stability and fluidity | Non-penetrating |
| Butanediol | Hydrogen bonding with water; reduction in nucleation of ice | Cell-penetrating |
| Proline | Osmoprotection; ROS scavenging; protein stabilization | Non-penetrating |
| Isoleucine | Membrane stabilization | Non-penetrating |
| Creatine | Buffering cellular ATP | Non-penetrating |
| Mannitol | Osmotic stabilization | Non-penetrating |
| Xylose | Osmotic stabilization; decrease of intracellular water content | Non-penetrating |
| Pentaisomaltose | Osmotic stabilization | Non-penetrating |
ATP: adenine triphosphate; ROS: reactive oxygen species