Proper application of Origen Biomedical stem cell storage products (Part 1)

Cell therapy is the key to opening up survival opportunities for thousands of patients with complex conditions such as cancer, bone marrow failure, or immunological incompatibility. Each transplant is a critical test, which is why medical centers worldwide do not take risks. Stem cell transplant organizations and facilities require high-quality cell solutions to ensure absolute safety in treatment cases.

Origen Biological has become the leading choice due to its impressive R&D capabilities and world-class cryopreservation solutions. Today, Origen collaborates with blood banks and advanced stem cell transplant centers globally. It provides the most advanced stem cell cryopreservation products, helping to address the greatest challenges in cell therapy.

 

 

Origen Biological has developed a diverse solution ecosystem that can be flexibly applied for various cell therapies, including:

• Peripheral blood and peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) storage
• Umbilical cord blood storage
• CAR-T therapy
• Immunology and cell immunity

>> See Origen Biomedical’s introduction article

Application of peripheral blood and peripheral blood stem cell storage

Why store peripheral blood and peripheral blood stem cells?

Peripheral blood stem cells are primarily used in bone marrow transplants to treat blood diseases such as leukemia, hemolytic anemia, or immune disorders. Because of their importance, they need to be stored correctly to survive for many years. Cryopreservation has become the optimal choice for long-term storage. When the temperature is lowered, biological activity stops, preserving the cell function intact until it is needed.

Choosing the appropriate cell cryopreservation solution not only extends storage time but also minimizes the risks of infection and changes in sample quality. Origen’s cryopreservation products are highly trusted by experts for meeting the stringent criteria of cell cryopreservation. In addition to PBSC, blood banks also use OriGen bags to store plasma or rare blood components, such as rare blood types or stem cells from bone marrow.

Applying Origen’s ecosystem in peripheral blood and peripheral blood stem cell storage

Origen’s CryoStore™ cryopreservation bags are the optimal solution for peripheral blood and peripheral blood stem cell storage. The bags come in various sizes (25ml – 250ml) to store blood units or PBSC. Specifically, Origen’s CryoStore™ bags are made from durable EVA material, capable of withstanding extremely low temperatures in liquid nitrogen tanks, reducing the risk of cracking when used correctly.

The peripheral blood storage process usually begins by collecting stem cells from peripheral blood (typically via Apheresis). These stem cells are mixed with CryoPur® DMSO (concentration 5 – 10%) cryoprotectant solution to protect the cells during freezing. The stem cells are then placed in CryoStore™ bags and frozen to temperatures ranging from -150°C to -196°C, stored long-term in liquid nitrogen tanks. If done correctly, stem cells can be preserved for up to 10 – 20 years while retaining good recovery potential.

When used, the blood bag is quickly thawed at 37°C and then transfused to the patient or used in the lab. Thanks to the EVA material design, the CryoStore™ bag withstands thermal shock during thawing and minimizes the risk of bag rupture.

In clinical practice at a center in the U.S., a case was recorded where a stem cell storage bag leaked slightly after thawing, but it was promptly handled with proper technique. To prevent such instances, the O-Wrap™ outer wrap provides mechanical protection, making it an ideal solution. It protects the frozen storage bag (because EVA plastic becomes brittle like glass at temperatures below -80°C).

Representative customers

Organizations such as blood banks, hematology centers, and stem cell transplant units trust Origen’s products. They use the company’s products to preserve thousands of PBSC units each year, helping to provide effective stem cell transplant therapies for many patients.

Notably, North American institutions like the Blood Centers of America network, the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, and the City of Hope trust Origen. In Europe, organizations like the UK National Blood Transfusion Service (NHSBT), the German Institute for Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, and several blood banks in France, Italy, and Spain also use the company’s CE-marked cryopreservation bags. Additionally, major hematology centers in Asia, including Japan, China, South Korea, and India, also rely on Origen’s products.

Application of umbilical cord blood storage

Purpose of umbilical cord blood storage

Umbilical cord blood contains young hematopoietic stem cells, which can only be collected from newborns. These cells are very useful in treating blood and immune disorders. Proper storage of cord blood not only helps protect the stem cells but also optimizes their use for patients, especially when a compatible bone marrow donor cannot be found. Given its immense significance, cord blood stem cells require a special preservation process to ensure their activity is not lost over time.

Application and process of umbilical cord blood storage

Origen Biomedical provides a specialized product set for small-volume storage. The most important is the CryoStore™ multi-chamber bag, a new-generation product with five small chambers (each 4ml—6ml) that allows a single unit of cord blood to be divided into smaller portions. With its specialized structure, it can be thawed in portions for multiple treatments. Each bag comes with a tube set with non-needle ports and identification codes to ensure precise traceability.

After collection, the cord blood is separated from plasma and red blood cells, then concentrated into a stem cell suspension. This concentrated suspension is mixed with CryoPur® DMSO (concentration 5–10%) cryoprotectant solution. It is then divided into the chambers of the CryoStore™ bag using a cell transfer accessory kit (spike connectors, sterile transfusion tubing). Once completed, the bag is frozen at -90°C in a controlled freezer and then transferred to liquid nitrogen tanks (-196°C) for long-term storage. This process protects the stem cells during storage, ensuring optimal recovery potential when needed.

Representative customers in umbilical cord blood storage

Cord blood banks (both public and private) worldwide are the main customers who trust Origen’s product line. According to the Parents’ Guide to Cord Blood Foundation, Origen’s CryoStore™ bags are recognized by cord blood banks globally as a safe and cost-effective solution for stem cell storage [1].

Most FACT/NetCord-certified banks in North America and Europe have switched to Origen’s multi-chamber bags due to their superior features.

• United States: Public cord blood banks from the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI), storing over 115,000 cord blood units for transplant, use FDA-approved frozen bags like the OriGen CS series to ensure each unit is optimally preserved.
• Europe: Public banks in France (EFS Institute), Germany, the UK (NHS Cord Blood Bank), Spain, etc., adopted Origen’s 5-chamber technology in the late 2010s.

Asia has also seen strong adoption of Origen’s products, with national cord blood banks in Japan and major private banks in China (e.g., Beijing Cord Blood Bank), Taiwan, and Singapore importing Origen cryopreservation bags via regional distributors.

These organizations highly appreciate the multi-chamber cryopreservation bags’ sustainability and flexibility, which help optimize cord blood storage and utilization.

 

>> See Part 2: “Proper Application of Stem Cell Storage Products – Key Factors in Cancer Treatment”

Learn more about related stem cell processing products at: https://biogroupvietnam.com/ 

Reference

1. OriGen CS30M9 5-Chamber Bag. (n.d.). https://bitly.li/lzKP