Abstract: In most cryopreservation medium, Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is used as supplement, while it is well known that FBS contains xenoproteins that can be incorporated into the cells and may be harmfull, as they can elicit immune response. Therefore, finding other xenofree materials as FBS alternative in cryopreservation medium is very important. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is albumin rich and is a candidate for FBS alternative as cryopreservation supplement. Albumin is a natural extracellular cryoprotective agent that stabilizes impaired cell membrane during cryopreservation.

This was an in vitro analytical study to to compare the effect of PRP and FBS as supplement in cryopreservation medium on human umbilical cord stem cells. In this study the stem cells were isolated from an umbilical cord tissue by explant method and propagated untill we got enough cells for cryopreservation. Cryopreservations were done using eight types of protocol, which differed in type and concentration of supplement and cell concentration.

The effect of the eight protocols were compared in terms of post cryopreservation cell viability, morphology, cell size and proliferation. There were no difference between FBS and PRP supplemented cryopreservation media in term of cell viability and morphology. PRP supplemented medium showed better post cryopreservation performance in cell size and proliferation. PRP can be used as an alternative to FBS in cryopreservation medium for human umbilical cord tissue derived stem cells. Keywords: Stem Cells, Umbilical Cord, Cryopreservation