Cryopreservation of L929 cell culture in protective solutions containing hyaluronic acid
Keywords:
cryopreservation, cryoprotectants, L929 cell culture, dimethyl sulfoxide, hyaluronic acid, cell adhesionAbstract
Recently, cryobiological studies have focused on the prospects of using hyaluronic acid (HA) as a component of protective media during cryopreservation of various cell types. HA is a polysaccharide of natural origin and an integral component of the extracellular matrix, which determines its high biocompatibility and potential protective properties for cells under stressful conditions, in particular during freezing. The paper presents the results of cryopreservation of L929 cells using protective solutions containing 0.5% HA of various molecular weights as well as 5% of the classical endocellular cryoprotectant DMSO. Experimental protocols for the freezing of cells differed in the cryoprotective solution composition, the method of adding its components to cells, and the duration of cell exposure. The effectiveness of the cryopreservation protocols used was assessed by the viability of L929 cells and their adhesive properties. The results obtained showed that HA, regardless of its molecular weight, did not affect the penetration of DMSO through the membranes of L929 cells. The use of a cryoprotective solution containing only low-molecular-weight HA ensured cell survival at (72 ± 4.2) %, which did not differ from the values for the standard protocol. For high-molecular-weight HA, this index decreased to (42 ± 4.8) %. Regardless of the cryopreservation protocol, L929 cells retained the ability to attach to an adhesive surface. However, further growth and proliferation of cells largely depended on the composition of the cryoprotective solution and the conditions of administration of its components. Thus, it was shown that both low-molecular-weight HA and high-molecular-weight HA exhibited pronounced cryoprotective properties and can be used either as components of protective media in combination with DMSO, or as an independent impermeable cryoprotectant.
Probl Cryobiol Cryomed. 2026; 36(1): 27—31
References
Ehrhart F, Schulz JC, Katsen-Globa A, et al. A comparative study of freezing cells and spheroids: Towards a new model system for optimizing freezing protocols for cryobanking of human. Cryobiology. 2009; 58: 119-27. CrossRef
Garantziotis S, Savani RC. Hyaluronan biology: A complex balancing act of structure, function, location and context. Matrix Biol. 2019; 78-79: 1-10. CrossRef
Gurina TM, Kovalov GO, Polyakova AL, et al. Assessment of hyaluronic acid and DMSO influence on low-temperature tissue damage course: an experimental model. Probl Cryobiol Criomed. 2025; 35(4): 208-18. CrossRef
Gurina TM, Nardid EO, Seliuta AA, et al. Sterilization and low temperature effects on regenerative potential of hyaluronic acid. Probl Cryobiol Criomed. 2025; 35(2): 68-75. CrossRef
Gurruchaga H, Saenz del Burgoa L, Orivea G, et.al. Low molecular-weight hyaluronan as a cryoprotectant for the storage of microencapsulated cells. Int J Pharm. 2018; 518: 206-16. CrossRef
Jiang B, Li W, Stewart S, Ou W, et al. Sand-mediated ice seeding enables serum-free low-cryoprotectant cryopreservation of human induced pluripotent stem cells. Bioact Mater. 2021; 6(12): 4377-88. CrossRef
Liu M, Chen C, Yu J, et al. The gelatin-based liquid marbles for cell cryopreservation. Mater Today Bio [Internet]. 2022 Oct 31 [cited 2025 Nov 24]; 17: 100477. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006422002757 CrossRef
Matsumura K, Hayashi F, Nagashima T, et al. Molecular mechanisms of cell cryopreservation with polyampholytes studied by solid-state NMR. Commun Mater [Internet]. 2021 Feb 09 [cited 2025 Nov 24]; 2: 15. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43246-021-00118-1 CrossRef
Matsumura K, Bae JY, Hyon SH. Polyampholytes as cryoprotective agents for mammalian cell cryopreservation. Cell Transplant. 2010; 19: 691-9. CrossRef
Pakhomov O, Shevchenko N, Chernobai N, et al. Open-source hardware- and software-based cryomicroscopy system for investigation of phase transitions in cryobiological research. J. Microsc. 2024; 293(2): 71-85. CrossRef
Palasz A, Alkemade S, Mapletoft RJ. Use of sodium hyaluronate in freezing media for ovine and murine embryos. Cryobiology.1993; 30: 172-8. CrossRef
Pilbauerova N, Schmidt J, Soukup T, et al. Innovative approach in the cryogenic freezing medium for mesenchymal stem cells. Biomolecules [Internet]. 2022 Apr 20 [cited 2025 Nov 24]; 12(5): 610. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/5/610 CrossRef
Plaksina EM, Sidorenko OC, Bozhok GA. Cryopreservation of multicellular spheroids derived from newborn piglet adrenal glands. Probl Cryobiol Cryomed. 2017; 27(4): 322-33. CrossRef
Seliuta AA, Polyakova AL, Gurina TM. Hyaluronic acid: innovations and prospects in biology and medicine. Regul Mech Biosyst. 2025 Sep 24 [cited 2025 Nov 24]; 16(4): e25167. Available from: https://medicine.dp.ua/index.php/med/article/view/1439 CrossRef
Ujihira M, Iwama A, Aoki M, et al. Cryoprotective effect of low-molecular-weight hyaluronan on human dermal fibroblast monolayers. CryoLetters. 2010; 31(2): 101-11. PubMed
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

