Dimethyl sulfoxide: a central player since the dawn of cryobiology, is efficacy balanced by toxicity?
- Regen Med. 2020 Mar;15(3):1463-1491. doi: 10.2217/rme-2019-0145.
- 1. Institute for Liver & Digestive Health, UCL Division of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, UCL, London, NW3 2PF, UK.
- 2. Institute for Problems of Cryobiology & Cryomedicine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Pereyaslavska 23, 61016, Kharkiv.
- 3. Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, Kings College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
- 4. Department of Surgical Biotechnology, UCL Division of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, UCL, London, NW3 2QG, UK.
- 5. Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult, 12th Floor Tower Wing, Guy's Hospital, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
- 6. Centre for Cell, Gene & Tissue Therapy, Royal Free London NHS FT & UCL, London, NW3 2PF, UK.
- 7. Tissue Bank, University Hospital Hradec Kralové, Czech Republic.
- 8. Department of Biomaterials & Biophysical Methods, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
- 9. University of Loughborough, Centre for Biological Engineering, Loughborough University, Holywell Park, Loughborough, UK.
- 10. International Stem Cell Banking Initiative, 2 High Street, Barley, Hertfordshire, SG8 8HZ.
- 11. Beijing Stem Cell Bank, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 25-2 Beishuan West, Haidan District, 100190 Beijing, China.
- 12. Institute of Stem Cells & Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is the cryoprotectant of choice for most animal cell systems since the early history of cryopreservation. It has been used for decades in many thousands of cell transplants. These treatments would not have taken place without suitable sources of DMSO that enabled stable and safe storage of bone marrow and blood cells until needed for transfusion. Nevertheless, its effects on Cell Biology and apparent toxicity in patients have been an ongoing topic of debate, driving the search for less cytotoxic cryoprotectants. This review seeks to place the toxicity of DMSO in context of its effectiveness. It will also consider means of reducing its toxic effects, the alternatives to its use and their readiness for active use in clinical settings.