Cryopreservation of stem cells

Cryopreservation is a set of techniques that preserves cells at very low temperatures (-196ºC) through the use of liquid nitrogen.
The stem cells are then stored in cryopreservation tanks for a period of at least 25 years.
But what are stem cells and what differentiates them from other cells?

What are stem cells?

Stem cells, also known as "stem" cells or "mother" cells, are cells with enormous versatility and two characteristics that differentiate them from other cells in our body:
- The ability to self-renew indefinitely;
- The ability to differentiate into multiple cell lineages.

These two characteristics make these cells useful in the treatment of more than 80 diseases , acting at the level of tissue repair and consequently in the treatment of diseases resulting from cellular dysfunction. This includes hematological-oncological diseases and diseases within the scope of regenerative medicine.

There are several sources of stem cells: Bone marrow, peripheral blood, adipose tissue, nasal mucosa, dental pulp.

BebéVida focuses its activity on the processing and cryopreservation of stem cells from:

Umbilical cord blood (Hematopoietic Stem Cells)
Hematopoietic cells, which differentiate into blood lineage cells, have been shown by current research to be of great importance in hematological and oncological therapies, such as for leukemias, lymphomas, and anemias.

Umbilical cord tissue (Mesenchymal Stem Cells)
Mesenchymal cells are undifferentiated cells with the capacity for self-renewal and multiplication, and can differentiate into other cell lineages.

These cells are the subject of dozens of clinical trials for a wide variety of pathologies. They are expected to be a key component in the treatment of neurological, cardiac, and other diseases such as diabetes.
But are there, in fact, advantages to storing stem cells from umbilical cord blood and tissue?

Advantages of storing stem cells

At the time of birth, there are only two possible destinations for the blood and tissue of the umbilical cord, that is, for the stem cells – to be stored or discarded.
It's up to you to decide what to do with your samples.
We help you make a decision, outlining a range of advantages you'll gain by choosing to cryopreserve umbilical cord blood and tissue.

Compatibilities

Umbilical cord blood is 100% compatible with itself, and there is a greater than 25% chance of the sample being compatible between siblings from the same parents.
With regard to umbilical cord tissue, this issue does not arise due to its low immunogenicity. Mesenchymal stem cells from this tissue can be used in regenerative medicine even if there is no compatibility between donor and recipient.

Availability

Blood and tissue samples are immediately available for therapeutic use. It is important to remember that time plays a crucial role in treatment, and there is no need to wait to find a compatible donor.

Post-Transplant Recovery

The use of umbilical cord blood presents a better prognosis for recovery and a lower probability of post-transplant complications. These complications can arise when we talk about therapies in which the donor and recipient are different people.
In these cases, Mesenchymal Tissue Cells play a vital role, as their application reduces the risks and complications after transplantation, namely Graft-versus-Host Disease.

Risk-free harvests

Umbilical cord blood and tissue collection is non-invasive and painless for both mother and baby. Compared to bone marrow collection, this procedure is simpler.
By storing stem cells, you will have at your disposal a therapeutic option for the treatment of more than 80 diseases .

Learn more about the cryopreservation process and how to subscribe to the service!

Get in touch with BebéVida, the only 100% Portuguese laboratory, and learn about all our cryopreservation services, how the whole process works, and find out about all the special offers we have for you!

BebéVida Contacts:
212 744 021 or 918 258 113