Success Story:LiberaCell™Preserving Islet Viability with Cryopreservation
Challenge
Human pancreatic islets, clusters of insulin-producing alpha, beta, delta, and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells, are central to research and therapeutic strategies for reversing diabetes. However, these fragile multicellular structures do not survive standard cryopreservation methods. Conventional freezing leads to extensive cell death, loss of function, and disrupted morphology, making it difficult to store, transport, and use islets for preclinical or clinical applications.
Solution
Likarda applied its proprietary LiberaCell™ encapsulation platform to protect intact islets during the freeze–thaw process. By surrounding each cluster within a biocompatible hydrogel microsphere, LiberaCell™ provides a supportive microenvironment that reduces ice-crystal damage and maintains structural integrity. In parallel, Likarda scientists developed custom cryomedia formulations and optimized freezing and thawing rates to further enhance post-thaw recovery.
Testing & Results
Improved Viability Post-Thaw
Encapsulated islets retained high viability and cellular integrity compared to standard (unencapsulated) cryopreservation, as confirmed by live/dead imaging.
Optimized Cryomedia Performance
Likarda’s Cryomedium #1, combined with controlled freeze–thaw rates, produced the highest viability and metabolic activity three days after thawing.
Metabolic Recovery
Post-thaw metabolism initially increased as cells recovered and stabilized to near pre-freeze levels by day three, demonstrating functional recovery after cryopreservation.
Enhanced Survival in Select Formulations
Hydrogel polymer formulation #2 yielded superior survival and uniform morphology relative to formulation #1, highlighting tunability of the LiberaCell™ system.
Outcome
By integrating encapsulation with optimized cryomedia, Likarda achieved successful cryopreservation of intact islets, something not previously possible using conventional methods. These findings demonstrate that fragile, multicellular clusters can survive freezing and thawing when first encapsulated, opening new possibilities for islet banking, diabetes research, and future transplant applications.
Impact
LiberaCell™ enables long-term storage and transport of intact islets without sacrificing viability or function. This breakthrough could help overcome one of the biggest barriers in diabetes research: the inability to preserve and distribute functional islets globally. Beyond diabetes, these results establish a foundation for applying Likarda’s encapsulation technology to other multicellular systems, including organoids, spheroids, and engineered tissues requiring cryogenic preservation.
