Abstract: Traditional methods for transporting cells and in vitro models rely on expensive and hazardous cryopreservation techniques, which are prone to failure during shipment delays. Atelerix’s innovative technology addresses these challenges by using alginate hydrogels to encapsulate cellular material, offering protection from biochemical and physical damage during storage and transport. This approach eliminates the need for dry ice, requires no specialised logistics, and presents a more sustainable solution, reducing carbon footprint and avoiding toxic chemicals. Atelerix’s product, WellReady™, enables the storage and shipment of cells, organoids, and microtissues in multi-well plates at room temperature for up to seven days. Post-preservation, in vitro hepatocyte models retain viability, marker expression, and active drug-metabolising enzymes. iPSC-derived cortical neurons maintain their morphology and axonal networks, while iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte models exhibit full metabolic recovery and contractile forces. WellReady™ is particularly effective for preserving primary cells, which have a short shelf-life and are vulnerable to cryopreservation-induced stress. High recoverable viability has been demonstrated in various human cell types, including adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells, dermal fibroblasts, dermal keratinocyte epithelial cells, and airway epithelial cells. Alongside cell models, fresh primary tissue is essential for advanced screening techniques, diagnosis, drug development, and patient-derived model generation. However, tissue quality declines rapidly after retrieval, and the distance between collection and processing sites can lead to extended distribution times and diminished tissue quality. Atelerix’s TissueReady™ provides a novel solution for storing and shipping fresh cancer tissue at room temperature for up to five days, preserving viability, cancer cell phenotype, histological integrity, and RNA quality. Maintaining the quality of patient-derived tissues for physiologically-relevant model generation is becoming increasingly important in drug discovery with the replacement of animal models.
