Effects of Freezing on Cytoskeletal Structure of Fibroblasts in Engineered Tissues

Successful preservation of functional cells and tissues are critical to cell/tissue engineering and regenerative medicines. One of the most reliable methods of cell/tissue preservation is cryopreservation; in which cells and tissues are frozen before storage and thawed when needed. Since the cellular viability and the microstructure of extracellular matrix (ECM) directly correspond to the functionality of a tissue, successful cryopreservation should maintain the extracellular matrix (ECM) microstructure as well as cellular viability post-thaw. A few recent studies [1,2] reported that complex cell-fluid-matrix interaction occurred during freezing of tissues, and this interaction might determine the post-thaw ECM microstructure and affect the cellular viability. These studies also suggested that the cells within tissues might exert or sense mechanical stress during freezing through the cytoskeleton connected to the ECM via cell-matrix adhesion complexes.