Serum/Protein-Free Cell Freezing Medium 

MCE Serum/Protein-Free Cell Freezing Medium is a complete ready-to-use cryopreservation medium. The product is a uniquely formulated, serum-free, protein-free and animal component-free, which can provide a safe, protective environment for cells during freezing, storage, and thawing process. The chemical composition of this product is clear, containing nutrients such as sugars, amino acids and various protective agents such as DMSO. It greatly weakens the crystallization process of water, protects cells from solute damage, and effectively improves viability and cell recovery after thawing.

The product is suitable for the cryopreservation of conventional mammalian cells and serum-free cultured cells. It is ready-to-use and doesn’t require any additives. In the process of cryopreservation, there is no need for time-consuming programmed cryopreservation steps and the cells can be directly frozen after resuspension.

4°C, 1 year

1. Cryopreserving Cells

For optimum results, cells should be in logarithmic growth phase at the time of freezing.

1.1. For adherent cells, wash with sterile PBS twice and gently detach cells from the substrate using trypsin. Resuspend cells in complete medium. During digestion, carefully handle the adherent cells to avoid cell damage. For suspension cells, proceed directly to step 1.2.

1.2. Obtain a cell suspension using a cell-specific protocol and centrifuge cells for 3-5 minutes at 500 g at 4°C, carefully aspirate the supernatant.

1.3. Determine the viable cell density and percent viability and calculate the required volume of MCE Serum/Protein-Free Cell Freezing Medium to give a final cell density of 1 × 10⁶-10⁷ cells/mL. The whole process is operated on ice to avoid damage to the cells by the protective agent.

1.4. Dispense aliquots of cell suspension into cryovials.

1.5. Directly place the cryovials containing the cell suspension in -80°C refrigerator, and move into liquid nitrogen for long-term storage after 24 h.

2. Thawing Cells

Before starting, warm the required amount of complete medium to 37°C.

2.1. Remove the cryovial from cryo-storage and rapidly thaw it in a 37°C water bath. Thaw sample with gentle swirling until all visible ice has melted.

2.2. Wipe down the outside of cryovials with 75% ethanol and add, dropwise, the appropriate pre-warmed complete medium to suspend cells. Transfer cell suspension to a centrifuge tube that already contains 5-10 mL of complete medium. Ensure complete mixing with regular gentle swirling.

2.3. Centrifuge cells for 3-5 minutes at 500 g at 4°C, carefully aspirate the supernatant.

2.4. Gently resuspend cell pellet in an appropriate volume of pre-warmed complete medium. Transfer cell suspension to sterile culture vessel and place into the recommended culture environment after microscopy.