Understanding DMSO and Glucose Preservation in Regenerative Products.

Understanding DMSO and Glucose Preservation in Natural Biologic Products.

What is the goal of preservatives in biologic products ?

Preserving Umbilical Cord Tissue products aims to maintain the cells’ biological activity when thawed from -86 degrees C, ensuring high viability and functionality. Thawing from such low temperatures can reduce viability due to increased biological stress, exacerbated by lack of glucose for metabolism, which can lead to cellular damage and decreased function.

Using a glucose-based preservative during preservation helps sustain cell viability upon thawing, minimizing biological stress by providing necessary nutrients for survival. Unlike DMSO, which may trigger immune and gastrointestinal reactions, glucose-based preservation in Ggevityy Umbilical Cord Tissue products reduces the risk of such adverse effects.

What is DMSO and Potential Adverse Reactions ?

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an organosulfur compound prized for its dual solvency, capable of dissolving both polar and nonpolar substances. Beyond its role as a chemical solvent, DMSO is utilized in medicine, notably for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Its ability to permeate skin and biological membranes makes it valuable as a carrier for topical medications. While FDA-approved for treating interstitial cystitis, its broader medical applications are limited by inadequate evidence and concerns over potential toxicities.

  • Mild Reactions: These include garlic-like taste, dry skin, erythema, pruritus, urine discoloration, and dizziness​ (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)​.
  • Moderate to Severe Reactions: Some patients may experience more serious side effects such as headaches, skin rash, hypotension, and gastrointestinal disturbances. More severe reactions include neurotoxicity, respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmias, and even anaphylaxis​ (EviQ)​. Histamine reactions due to mast cell release triggered by an allergen (DMSO).
  • Hypersensitivity Reactions: Severe infusion reactions and anaphylaxis can occur, particularly when DMSO is used as a cryoprotectant for umbilical cord tissue cellular products. Symptoms can range from nausea and vomiting to life-threatening conditions like cardiac arrest and severe neurotoxicity​ (EviQ)​.

Figure #1: Systemic consequences of mast cell histamine release.

Benefits of a Glucose- Based Preservative.

GGEVITYY preserves products in a glucose based preservative, with no DMSO. The benefits of natural biologics preservation in glucose include:

  • 1

    Reduced Risk Of Adverse Reactions: Glucose does not induce the hypersensitivity or severe adverse reactions associated with DMSO.

  • 2

    Natural: Glucose is a naturally occurring sugar that is well-tolerated by the human body. Its use as a preservative in natural biologic products reduces the risk of the adverse effects commonly seen with DMSO​.

  • 3
    Efficacy: Products preserved in glucose maintain high post-thaw viability and functionality, ensuring that the cells remain effective for therapeutic use.
Supporting Literature
  • Adverse reactions of dimethyl sulfoxide in humans: A systematic review—PMC. (n.d.). Retrieved July 23, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6707402/
  • Arutyunyan, I., Fatkhudinov, T., & Sukhikh, G. (2018). Umbilical cord tissue cryopreservation: A short review. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 9, 236. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-018-0992-0
  • Dovgan, B., Miklavčič, D., Knežević, M., Zupan, J., & Barlič, A. (2021). Intracellular delivery of trehalose renders mesenchymal stromal cells viable and immunomodulatory competent after cryopreservation. Cytotechnology, 73(3), 391–411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10616-021-00465-4
  • Kollerup Madsen, B., Hilscher, M., Zetner, D., & Rosenberg, J. (2019). Adverse reactions of dimethyl sulfoxide in humans: A systematic review. F1000Research, 7, 1746. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.16642.2
  • Zhang, T.-Y., Tan, P.-C., Xie, Y., Zhang, X.-J., Zhang, P.-Q., Gao, Y.-M., Zhou, S.-B., & Li, Q.-F. (2020). The combination of trehalose and glycerol: An effective and non-toxic recipe for cryopreservation of human adipose-derived stem cells. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 11(1), 460. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-020-01969-0

In conclusion, glucose preservation in natural biologic products offer a safer alternative to DMSO, reducing the risk of adverse reactions while maintaining the viability of the biologic. This is a significant differentiator for GGEVITYY, ensuring that our biologics are of the highest quality, with the top priority being the impact they have on the end user.