The History of Cryopreservation – From Experiments to Modern Biotechnology

Cryopreservation, or the freezing and long-term storage of living cells and tissues at extremely low temperatures, has been crucial for advancements in medicine, research, agriculture, and conservation. But how did it all start—and where are we today?

The First Attempts – The Beginning of Cryobiology

The history of cryopreservation begins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when researchers experimented with freezing sperm and blood cells to see if they could survive and remain viable after thawing. The earliest attempts were often unsuccessful.

Glycerol – The First Major Breakthrough

A real breakthrough came in 1949, when scientists discovered that glycerol could protect sperm cells from damage during freezing. This marked the start of modern cryopreservation and made it possible to store cells for long periods and still have them remain viable after thawing. In the 1950s and 60s, the technique was further developed for sperm cells, blood cells, and embryos, and the method quickly found its way into both medicine and agriculture.

DMSO and the Development of Cryoprotective Agents

In the late 1950s, Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) was introduced as a highly effective cryoprotective agent. DMSO can penetrate cells and prevent the formation of large ice crystals, which greatly increases survival rates. The use of DMSO has made it possible to freeze everything from stem cells and bone marrow to eggs, sperm, and human embryos—and it has been the industry standard for decades.

New Applications and Technological Advances

In the 1980s and 90s, development accelerated. Cryopreservation became an important part of biobanking, fertility treatment (IVF), cell and gene therapy, and the preservation of endangered animal and plant species. In 1996, “Dolly”—the world’s first cloned sheep—was born from a cell that had been frozen, proving that complex organisms can develop from cryopreserved cells.

Challenges and the Need for New Solutions

Although DMSO has been effective, it also has major drawbacks: the substance is cytotoxic in high doses and can cause side effects when used in treatment. There has therefore been a growing need for safer, more effective, and simpler methods for cryopreservation—especially as the applications have become more numerous and advanced.

Modern Cryopreservation – Towards a Cytotoxic Chemical-Free Future

Today, researchers and biotechnology companies around the world are working to develop new solutions that maintain cell viability without the use of cytotoxic chemical cryoprotectants such as DMSO. Modern technology, such as Sci-Group’s CryoEmbla, makes it possible to freeze cells quickly and in a controlled manner—entirely without DMSO or other cytotoxic cryoprotective agents. This opens the door to safer treatments, simpler workflows, and new opportunities in medicine, research, agriculture, and conservation.

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