Using cryopreserved allogeneic pericardium to repair congenital heart defects in children.

Patches prepared from autologous, allogeneic, or xenogeneic tissues are widely used in the repair of congenital heart defects in children. Since 2002, cryopreserved allogeneic pericardial patches have been prepared in our institution as an alternative to commercially available patches. This study retrospectively reviewed donor and patient data concerning cryopreservation time and the clinical use of the pericardium in 382 children who were operated on at a single center between 2004 and 2021. There were 177 donors: 98 males and 79 females. The median donor age was 13 years (range: 1 month to 53 years) and the median cryopreservation time was 72 days (range: 3-685). There were 382 pediatric patients: 224 males and 158 females. The median patient age was 1 month (range: 3 days to 17.8 years). The patches were used for primary surgeries in 228 patients and for reoperations in 154. The patches were implanted into the right heart or venous circulation in 209 patients, the left heart or arterial circulation in 246 patients, and both sides of the circulatory system in 73. Extracardiac patch implantation was performed in 339 patients, intracardiac in 79 patients, and both intracardiac and extracardiac in 36 patients. Our study presents a single-center experience in the use of cryopreserved allogeneic pericardium. The pericardium can be used on the systemic and pulmonary sides of the circulatory system, in either extracardiac or intracardiac positions. However, there is no uniform strategy for selecting the "patch of choice" for correcting congenital heart defects in children, especially since there are few studies comparing several types of patches.

How to counteract the lack of donor tissue in cardiac surgery? Initial experiences with a newly established homograft procurement program.

Homograft heart valves may have significant advantages and are preferred for the repair of congenital valve malformations, especially in young women of childbearing age, athletes and in patients with active endocarditis. A growing problem, however, is the mismatch between tissue donation and the increasing demand. The aim of this paper is to describe the initiation process of a homograft procurement program to attenuate the shortage of organs. A comprehensive description of the infrastructure and procedural steps required to initiate a cardiac and vascular tissue donation program combined with a prospective follow-up of all homografts explanted at our institution. Between January 2020 and May 2022, 28 hearts and 12 pulmonary bifurcations were harvested at our institution and delivered to the European homograft bank. Twenty-seven valves (19 pulmonary valves, 8 aortic valves) were processed and allocated for implantation. The reasons for discarding a graft were either contamination (n = 14), or morphology (n = 13) or leaflet damage (n = 2). Five homografts (3 PV, 2 AV) have been cryopreserved and stored while awaiting allocation. One pulmonary homograft with a leaflet cut was retrieved by bicuspidization technique and awaits allocation, as a highly requested small diameter graft. The implementation of a tissue donation program in cooperation with a homograft bank can be achieved with reasonable additional efforts at a transplant center with an in-house cardiac surgery department. Challenging situations with a potential risk of tissue injury during procurement include re-operation, harvesting by a non-specialist surgeon and prior central cannulation for mechanical circulatory support.

Impact of prolonged storage time on homograft ultrastructures: an attempt to find optimal guidelines for homograft processing.

According to guidelines, total ischemic time for homografts at processing must be kept short to avoid degeneration. Many homografts are discarded due to practical inability to finish all steps from procurement to cryopreservation within the time limit. Although, several studies have shown that homografts with prolonged ischemic time show adequate quality and performance. Twenty aortic and 12 pulmonary homografts were collected and biopsies were retrieved at preparation (day 0) and after 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60 days in antibiotic decontamination at 4 °C. Biopsies were prepared for light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Assessment generated scores for cells, elastin, and collagen. Relative differences between times were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. Bonferroni corrected p value of 0.0056 was considered significant. LM could only reveal decrease in cell count at 60 days in aortic homografts, no other differences was detected. TEM showed affected cell appearance in day 3 and day 4 and beyond for aortic and pulmonary homografts respectively. Elastin appearance was affected at day 60 for aortic and day 21 for pulmonary homografts. Collagen appearance was affected at day 28 for aortic homografts, with no significant differences in pulmonary homografts. Cell degeneration starts early after homograft procurement, but elastic and collagen fibers are more resistant to degeneration. Overall structure integrity as seen in LM was not affected at all, while TEM could reveal small degeneration signs in individual elastic fibers and collagen bundles at 21 and 28 days respectively.

Allografts: expanding the surgeon's armamentarium.

In Germany, bone allografts are widely used and their application in clinics has increased over the years. Successful use of allografts depends on many factors such as the procurement, processing, sterilization and the surgeon's surgical experience. Tissue banks have provided safe and sterile allografts for decades ranging from hard to soft tissue. Allografts are obtained from various tissues such as bone, tendon, amniotic membrane, meniscus and skin. An advantage of allografts is their wide applicability that has never been limited by indication restrictions thus providing a huge benefit for surgeon's. The use of the correct allograft in different indications is extremely important. Thereby surgeons have access to various allograft forms such as mineralized, demineralized, freeze-dried, paste, powder, chips strips and putty. The vast options of allografts allow surgeon's to use allografts in indications they deem fit. Currently, the application of allografts is at the discretion of the expert surgeon. However, regulations are often changed locally or internationally and may impact/limit allograft use to certain indications. Here, we report the different indications where our peracetic acid (PAA) sterilised bone allografts were used as well as general literature on bone allograft use in other indications.

Vascular allografts for clinical application in Europe: assessment of 30 years of experience with vascular tissue banking in Brussels.

Vascular tissue banking has been carried out in Brussels for over 30 years in compliance with EU and Swiss tissue banking regulations. A total of 2.765 vascular tissue donations were performed in Belgian, French, Netherlands and Suisse transplant centres: 547(20%), 1.013(37%) and 1.205(43%) during the first, second and third periods, respectively. 85% and 18% increase in donations during the second and third decades compared to previous one, were remarkable. Of the 7.066 evaluated vascular tissues, 2.407(227, 921 and 1.259) were discarded (34.1%), whereas 4.659(523, 1.861 and 2.275) accepted (65.9%) during the respective period. Of the 92 donated veins, 44(47.8%) were discarded and 48(52.2%) accepted. Allografts available for clinical application were stored in vapours of liquid nitrogen. A total of 4.636 allografts were delivered and transplanted for cases of infection (58%), critical limb ischaemia (16%) and congenital cardiac surgery (15%). Thirty veins were implanted. The progressive increases in donations of 20%, 37% and 43% and in transplantations of 20.8%, 34.6% and 45% during the first, second and third periods, respectively, were remarkable. Complications were reported after transplantation and these included acute rejection of two femoral arteries one month after transplantation. We conclude that the donation and transplantation of cryopreserved vascular allografts was stable with a progressive increase over time. Allografts were used predominantly for the treatment of infection, limb salvage for critical ischaemia and for neonates and infants with congenital cardiac malformation. Immune related rejection was observed. This should be a subject of future investigation.

Cryopreserved human heart valve allografts: a ten-year single centre experience.

This study provides an overview of tissue banking activities at the Croatian Cardiovascular Tissue Bank (CTB) during past ten years and presents the outcomes of cryopreserved heart valve allografts (CHAs) use in different patient groups. From June 2011 until December 2021, 75 heart donations were referred to CTB: 41 recipient of heart transplant (RHT), 32 donors after brain death (DBD) and 2 donors after circulatory death (DCD) donations. Processing resulted in 103 valves of which 65 met quality requirements for clinical use. Overall tissue discard rate was 37%. The most frequent reasons for discard were inadequate morphology (12%) in RHT donations and microbiological contamination (19%) in DBD donations. Altogether, 38 CHAs were transplanted to 36 patients. Recipients were divided in three groups; infective endocarditis (IE), non-infectious heart disease and congenital heart disease group. In the IE group, the 30-day, 1-year and 3-year survival was 71%, 53% and 47%, respectively. Freedom from re-operation due to all graft-related causes was 76% and due to structural valve deterioration 88%. There were no cases of graft reinfection. In the congenital heart disease group CHAs were predominantly (94%) used for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and 88% of patients recovered without graft-related complications. At present, the number of demands for CHAs at CTB considerably outweighs their availability.

Characterization of Human Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue and Validation of the Banking Procedure for Autologous Transplantation.

Adipose tissue (AT) is composed of a heterogeneous population which comprises both progenitor and differentiated cells. This heterogeneity allows a variety of roles for the AT, including regenerative functions. In fact, autologous AT is commonly used to repair soft tissue defects, and its cryopreservation could be a useful strategy to reduce the patient discomfort caused by multiple harvesting procedures. Our work aimed to characterize the cryopreserved AT and to validate its storage for up to three years for clinical applications. AT components (stromal vascular fraction-SVF and mature adipocytes) were isolated in fresh and cryopreserved samples using enzymatic digestion, and cell viability was assessed by immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Live, apoptotic and necrotic cells were quantified using cytometry by evaluating phosphatidylserine binding to fluorescent-labeled Annexin V. A multiparametric cytometry was also used to measure adipogenic (CD34+CD90+CD31-CD45-) and endothelial (CD34+CD31+CD45-) precursors and endothelial mature cells (CD34-CD31+CD45-). The maintenance of adipogenic abilities was evaluated using in vitro differentiation of SVF cultures and fluorescent lipid staining. We demonstrated that AT that is cryopreserved for up to three years maintains its differentiation potential and cellular composition. Given our results, a clinical study was started, and two patients had successful transplants without any complications using autologous cryopreserved AT.

The potential of radiation sterilized and banked tissue allografts for management of nuclear casualties.

Processed and radiation sterilized allograft tissues that can be banked for use on demand are a precious therapeutic resource for the repair or reconstruction of damaged or injured tissues. Skin dressings or skin substitutes like allograft skin, amniotic membrane and bioengineered skin can be used for the treatment of thermal burns and radiation induced skin injuries. Bone grafts can be employed for repairing fracture defects, filling in destroyed regions of bone, and treatment of spinal and joint injuries. A nuclear scenario would result in a large number of casualties due to the heat, blast and radiation effects of the weapon. Perspective of radiation sterilized biological tissues provided by the tissue banks for management of casualties in a nuclear disaster scenario is presented.

Disinfection protocol for human musculoskeletal allografts in tissue banking using hydrogen peroxide 30.

Musculoskeletal allografts are used in reconstructive procedures, however, the risk of contamination with potential pathogens is possible, and safe transplantation requires multiple processing considerations. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has commonly been used in bone washing because it can remove donor cells and eliminate antigens, pathogens, or cytotoxic agents from the matrix. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative activity of H2O2 in a model of bone contamination with a high bacterial load to define the bioburden reduction. Twelve bone disc models were artificially contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. The bones were treated with a washing process composed by antibiotics, 30% hydrogen peroxide, and 70% alcohol. Tryptic Soy Agar plates were directly inoculated with 100µL of each step of the washing process and colonies were counted in CFU/mL. Scanning electron microscopy was used for bone structural analysis before and after the washing process. After antibiotics, there was a drop of less than 1 log for cancellous bone and almost 1 log for cortical bone. However, after H2O2, there as a drop of 3 logs for cortical (p = 0.007), and 2 logs for cancellous bone (p = 0.063). The use of alcohol did not change the bioburden following H2O2 in cancellous and cortical bone. Despite the important drop of bacterial load, H2O2 was not enough to completely eradicate bacterial with this model of bioburden. H2O2 is useful in decontamination, but antibiotics have little activity, and alcohol is useless. The process is useful in decontamination up to 3 logs of bioburden.

Microbiological assessment of arterial allografts processed in a tissue bank.

The transmission of microbial infection through tissue allografts is one of the main risks that must be controlled in tissue banks. Therefore, microbiological monitoring controls and validated protocols for the decontamination of tissues during processing have been implemented. This study is based on the evaluation of data from microbiological cultures of arteries (mainly long peripheral arteries) processed in the tissue bank of Valencia (Spain). Donors' profile, pre- and post-disinfection tissue samples were assessed. The presence of residual antibiotics in disinfected tissues was determined and the antimicrobial potential of these tissues was tested. Our overall contamination rate was 23.69%, with a disinfection rate (after antibiotic incubation) of 87.5%. Most (76.09%) of the microbial contaminants were identified as Gram positive. Arterial allografts collected from body sites affected by prior organ removal showed higher risk of contamination. Only vancomycin was detected as tissue release. The antimicrobial effect on Candida albicans was lower than that for bacterial species. Risk assessment for microbial contamination suggested the donor's skin and the environment during tissue collection as the main sources for allograft contamination. Antibiotic-disinfected arterial allografts showed antimicrobial potential.

The BD BACTEC FX blood culture system with the gentlemacs dissociator is suitable for sterility testing of heart valve and vascular allografts-A validation study.

To present our validation study of the BD BACTEC FX blood culture system for sterility testing of cardiovascular tissues aimed for human application. For operational qualification, we performed temperature mapping of the system, vacuum test using non-inoculated BACTEC vials, and growth promotion tests by injecting contaminant strains into aerobic and anaerobic bottles. For performance qualification, negative control, assessment of method suitability, evaluation of sensitivity limits, control of neutralization of antibiotics in biopsy samples from allografts and tissue toxicity effects, were performed. Tissue samples and transport/cryopreservation solutions were homogenized in GentleMACS Dissociator and injected into BACTEC Plus aerobic and anaerobic vials for incubation at 35 °C for 14 days. Tissues were spiked with aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi. Growth of contaminants appeared in all aerobic and anaerobic vials for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; in anaerobic vials for Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes and Clostridium sporogenes; and only in aerobic vials for Candida albicans and Aspergillus brasiliensis. The majority of bacterial strains were detected within two days (59-100%), exceptionally between 3 and 14 days. In contrast, fungal contaminations were detected within 2, 3-6, 7-10 and after 10 days of incubation in 33.3, 71.6, 96.6 and 99.9% of cases,respectively. Uninhibited growth appeared in the tissue biopsies and homogenized tissues with and without antibiotics and in other solutions. BD BACTEC blood culture system with GentleMACS Dissociator is a rapid and efficient tool for detection of contamination in cardio-vascular tissues aimed for human application.

Transplantation of cryopreserved human heart valves in Europe: 30 years of banking in Brussels and future perspectives.

For over 30 years, our TE has processed, controlled for quality and distributed cryopreserved allograft valves for human application. We present a review of this activity and future perspectives of cardiovascular tissue banking. The donor age and medical/behavioral history are in compliance with the regulations of the EUMS. Allograft morphology and function are evaluated in a class A cleanroom. Tests for viral/bacterial infection, histological control of structure/infection/malignancy and control-rate cryopreservation are performed. A total of 7562 hearts were sent to our TE, whereas 7290 valves (pulmonary, aortic and mitral) were transplanted. The donations increased over time: 1934, 2566 and 3062 hearts were donated during the first, second and third decades (increases of 32.7 and 19.3% during the second and third decades). Likewise, there was a significant increase in transplantations with 2050, 2550 and 2690 valves implanted during the first, second and third decades (24.4 and 5.5% increase during the second and third decades). A total of 4475 pulmonary (61.4%), 2760 aortic (37.9%) and 55 mitral valves (0.7%) were transplanted. Outstanding long-term results in adults and evidence of immune-related deterioration of allografts in neonates and infants were demonstrated. Decellularization was suggested as a solution. One hundred pulmonary and 180 aortic valves were sent for transplantation after decellularization for the ESPOIR and ARISE clinical trials and beyond. The donation and transplantation activity increased progressively. Although cryopreserved valves represent the best substitute for diseased valves, accelerated failure appears after implantation in neonates and infants. The implementation of new technologies, such as decellularization, as a standard procedure for treatment of allograft valves will offer further improvements in allograft quality and increase of durability.

The time has come to extend the expiration limit of cryopreserved allograft heart valves.

Despite the wide choice of commercial heart valve prostheses, cryopreserved semilunar allograft heart valves (C-AHV) are required, and successfully transplanted in selected groups of patients. The expiration limit (EL) criteria have not been defined yet. Most Tissue Establishments (TE) use the EL of 5 years. From physiological, functional, and surgical point of view, the morphology and mechanical properties of aortic and pulmonary roots represent basic features limiting the EL of C-AHV. The aim of this work was to review methods of AHV tissue structural analysis and mechanical testing from the perspective of suitability for EL validation studies. Microscopic structure analysis of great arterial wall and semilunar leaflets tissue should clearly demonstrate cells as well as the extracellular matrix components by highly reproducible and specific histological staining procedures. Quantitative morphometry using stereological grids has proved to be effective, as the exact statistics was feasible. From mechanical testing methods, tensile test was the most suitable. Young's moduli of elasticity, ultimate stress and strain were shown to represent most important AHV tissue mechanical characteristics, suitable for exact statistical analysis. C-AHV are prepared by many different protocols, so as each TE has to work out own EL for C-AHV.

The useful agent to have an ideal biological scaffold.

Tissue engineering which is applied in regenerative medicine has three basic components: cells, scaffolds and growth factors. This multidisciplinary field can regulate cell behaviors in different conditions using scaffolds and growth factors. Scaffolds perform this regulation with their structural, mechanical, functional and bioinductive properties and growth factors by attaching to and activating their receptors in cells. There are various types of biological extracellular matrix (ECM) and polymeric scaffolds in tissue engineering. Recently, many researchers have turned to using biological ECM rather than polymeric scaffolds because of its safety and growth factors. Therefore, selection the right scaffold with the best properties tailored to clinical use is an ideal way to regulate cell behaviors in order to repair or improve damaged tissue functions in regenerative medicine. In this review we first divided properties of biological scaffold into intrinsic and extrinsic elements and then explain the components of each element. Finally, the types of scaffold storage methods and their advantages and disadvantages are examined.

The storage of skull bone flaps for autologous cranioplasty: literature review.

The use of autologous bone flap for cranioplasty after decompressive craniectomy is a widely used strategy that allows alleviating health expenses. When the patient has recovered from the primary insult, the cranioplasty restores protection and cosmesis, recovering fluid dynamics and improving neurological status. During this time, the bone flap must be stored, but there is a lack of standardization of tissue banking practices for this aim. In this work, we have reviewed the literature on tissue processing and storage practices. Most of the published articles are focused from a strictly clinical and surgical point of view, paying less attention to issues related to tissue manipulation. When bone resorption is avoided and the risk of infection is controlled, the autograft represents the most efficient choice, with the lowest risk of complication. Otherwise, depending on the degree of involvement, the patient may have to undergo new surgery, assuming further risks and higher healthcare costs. Therefore, tissue banks must implement protocols to provide products with the highest possible clinical effectiveness, without compromising safety. With a centralised management of tissue banking practices there may be a more uniform approach, thus facilitating the standardization of procedures and guidelines.

The risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with human heart valve transplantation: evaluation of cardio-vascular tissues from two consecutive heart donors with asymptomatic COVID-19.

We report on two living donors of explanted hearts while receiving heart transplantation that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on the day of donation, although clinically asymptomatic. They underwent heart transplantation for ischaemic and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, respectively. After evaluation of donor hearts, we cryopreserved and stored two pulmonary valves for clinical application and one aortic valve for research. Light microscopy of myocardium, mitral valve and aortic and pulmonary arterial wall and RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test of myocardium, mitral and tricuspid valve and aortic wall for detection of SARS-CoV-2 were performed. Presence of ACE2 in tissues was assessed with immunostaining. Light microscopy revealed a mild eosinophilic myocarditis in the ischemic cardiomyopathy heart, whereas enlarged cardiomyocytes with irregular nucleus and some with cytoplasmic vacuoles in the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy heart. Aortic and pulmonary wall were histologically normal. Immunostaining revealed diffuse presence of ACE2 in the myocardium of the heart with eosinophilic myocarditis, but only discrete presence in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy heart. The RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test showed no presence of the virus in tested tissues. Despite eosinophilic myocarditis in the ischemic cardiomyopathy heart, no viral traces were found in the myocardium and valve tissues. However, ACE2 was present diffusely in the ischemic cardiomyopathy heart. SARS-CoV-2 could not be detected in the cardiac tissues of these COVID-19 asymptomatic heart donors. In our opinion, clinical application of the valves from these donors presents negligible risk for coronavirus transmission. Nonetheless, considering the uncertainty regarding the risk of virus transmission with the human tissue transplantation, we would not release in any case the pulmonary valve recovered from the eosinophilic myocarditis heart. In contrast, we may consider the release of the pulmonary valve from the dilated cardiomyopathy heart only for a life-threatening situation when no other similar allograft were available.

Oocyte or ovarian tissue banking: decision-making in women aged 35 years or older facing age-related fertility decline.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Women who face age-related fertility decline have the option to safeguard future reproductive potential by banking oocytes or ovarian tissue. What are the methods that women prefer and what factors are important in their decision-making? DESIGN: Qualitative interview study, participants were recruited through monthly information sessions at a university hospital on oocyte banking, postings on social media, websites and newsletters and snowball sampling. Women had to be aged 35 years or older, single, childless and with a possible future desire for motherhood. Key concepts of the Health Belief Model were used as framework for the analyses. RESULTS: In total, 15 women participated in this qualitative study. For oocyte banking, they mentioned chances of success, extra time and faith in the technique and healthcare professionals as benefits. Risks for themselves or future children and costs were considered to be barriers in decision making. For ovarian tissue banking, the chances of success, the possibility of natural conception, the time investment and effect on menopausal symptoms were seen as benefits, and lack of experience and lack of information were considered barriers for themselves or their future children. Overall, they considered the procedures involved in oocyte banking as relatively 'easy', whereas ovarian tissue banking was seen as a more invasive procedure. CONCLUSION: Most women preferred oocyte banking over ovarian tissue banking because of its relative convenience. Future quantitative research in a larger cohort is necessary to confirm the findings and provide more insight into the relative importance of the different factors influencing women's decision.

In vitro susceptibility of microorganisms isolated from cold stored corneas: increased gentamicin-resistance in cornea banking.

Donor cornea contamination is one of the major risks for corneal transplants. The use of antibiotics in storage media remains as one of the most important security measurements to minimize the contamination risk in corneal preservation. Since antibiotic resistance among microorganisms have been rising gradually, it is important to gain knowledge about the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern for choosing the most suitable antimicrobial agents. Thus, we evaluated the in vitro susceptibility of microorganisms isolated in donor corneas processed at the Center for Blood Transfusion, Tissues and Cells (Córdoba, Spain) during 4 years in order to evaluate the efficiency, and to promote changes for further antibiotics use. Our results show the high rate of resistance to gentamicin, an antibiotic used in corneal preservation media such as Optisol GS and Eusol-C. Conversely, all the analyzed microorganisms were sensitive to vancomycin. This suggests the possibility of replacing gentamicin with another more effective antibacterial agent such as vancomycin.

Determination of antibiotics and detergent residues in decellularized tissue-engineered heart valves using LC-MS/MS.

Residual chemicals that are presented during tissue processing in human tissue banks can be a risk for the allograft recipient. Determine the residual concentrations of the antibiotics and detergent used in the process of human decellularized tissue-engineered heart valves stored in isotonic saline solution up to 18 months. A total of 24 human decellularized allografts were stored in sterile sodium chloride and analyzed immediately after the decellularization process (0 months) and after storage for 6, 12, and 18 months, which includes the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and antibiotics (cefoxitin, vancomycin hydrochloride, lincomycin hydrochloride, polymyxin B sulfate). These valves were used for suitability tests, the zone of inhibition evaluation, and direct contact cytotoxicity assay. The stock solution from 32 valves was used for LC-MS/MS analysis of antibiotics and SDS. Tissue samples from decellularized valves showed a zone of inhibition formation for S. aureus and B. subtilis, suggesting the presence of an inhibitory molecule in the tissue. Cytotoxicity tests were negative. Polymyxin B, vancomycin, and SDS were detected and quantified in human decellularized aortic and pulmonary allografts during all periods of the study. There were no traces of residual cefoxitin and lincomycin in the tissue stock solution. We found residual concentrations of the antibiotics and detergent used in the process of human decellularized tissue-engineered heart valves stored in isotonic saline solution up to 18 months.

NANOPARTICLE-MEDIATED DELIVERY OF CRYOPROTECTANTS FOR CRYOPRESERVATION.

Nanotechnology research has continued to garner interest and is investigated across a number of fields and industries, ranging from water treatment to clinical and biomedical applications. In biomedical research, for example, polymeric nanoparticles can be leveraged for controlled delivery of drugs and chemical compounds into cells. In cryobiological applications, polymeric nanoparticles can be utilized to deliver cryoprotectants (CPAs) and other protective agents, particularly those impermeable to the cell membrane, into cells to study their effects on cells during cooling down and warming back and at low temperatures. This perspective will discuss how polymeric nanoparticles have been used in cryobiology, with particular focus on how delivery systems have been specifically developed for low temperature applications and the potential for these systems going forward.