MIT researchers develop sugar-based cryopreservation technique for CAR-T cell therapy

Researchers at MIT have developed an innovative cryopreservation strategy, named Sugar Augmented Freezing by Electroporation (SAFE), to protect cancer-fighting CAR-T cells during freezing and shipment. This technique uses natural sugars, trehalose and sucrose, to prevent protein denaturation and ice crystal formation, mimicking natural antifreeze mechanisms found in Arctic organisms. The SAFE approach improved post-thaw viability and cell expansion by 1.8-fold compared to standard methods, potentially expanding access to CAR-T cell therapies globally.