CryoPod™ Carrier: Standardized Portable Cryogenic Handling of Cellular Therapies

Temperature control during sourcing, manufacturing, and delivery of cell therapies is crucial, as fluctuations can affect viability and function of the cells, and potentially, the overall efficacy and safety of the therapeutic product.

In many cell therapy workflows, source cells arrive cryopreserved at LN₂ temperatures (-150 to -196 °C) and post-manufacturing, cells are again cryopreserved and stored in vapor- or liquid phase LN₂ prior to their use in the clinic. In either case, containers filled with dry ice (-50 to -75 °C) or introduce temperature cycling (LN₂ to dry ice temperatures), can be unsafe for operators to handle, and are an unstandardized means of internal transport. Furthermore, multiple studies have shown that transient warming events affect cell viability and function and that tracking the temperature of the cells during any transit period is essential.

To improve standardization in how cell-based therapies are transported, BioCision and Brooks Life Science Systems have jointly developed the CryoPod™ Carrier, a safe, portable solution that, once charged with LN₂, maintains stable -150 °C environment for over 4 hours. LN₂ is contained in the CryoPod™ Carrier in a manner that prevents sloshing or spilling, and there is no direct contact between the contents and the LN₂. Additionally, the on-board electronics display and log temperature and time to provide assurance that the contents have not been subjected to temperature variation, and it accommodates one standard freezer box or multiple small bag cassettes.

The CryoPod™ Carrier standardizes internal cryogenic transport and provides researchers, manufacturers, and clinics a solution for safeguarding the cryogenic cold chain for valuable cell therapy products and those handling them.