New room temperature-based liquid formulation for storage of tissues and cells

Dec 8 2009

Biomatrica, the leader in room temperature biological sample stabilization, today announced the release of DNAgard(TM), the first room temperature-based liquid formulation for stabilization and storage of tissues and cells. The new DNAgard product adds to Biomatrica's portfolio of solutions for room-temperature storage, archiving, stabilization and transportation of biological samples. Utilizing Biomatrica's SampleMatrix® technology platform, DNAgard significantly simplifies transport and storage of tissues and cells at room temperature by preserving the quality and the quantity of genomic DNA in these biological samples.

With the release of DNAgard, tissues and cells can now be conveniently shipped and/or stored in a liquid format for at least 60 days at ambient room temperature without losing sample quality. An optional dry-down format permits room-temperature stabilization of DNA in tissues and cells for at least one year.

"This is an optimal biostability solution for sample collection, storage and shipping, particularly for field researchers, where freezers and dry ice are a challenge," said Laurent Coulon, Ph.D., product manager at Biomatrica. "Researchers can now easily, safely and cost effectively transport their field collections of biological samples to the lab without fear of sample quality degradation. Room temperature bio-sample storage is also very economical and an eco-friendly solution."

Tissues are currently transported in dry ice and stored at minus 80 degrees C until further processing. These cold shipping and storage methods are expensive, non-environmentally friendly, take space in the freezer and in shipment. The shipping of a few tissue samples on dry-ice requires a 10 pound package size and costs an average of $150 when shipped nationally. Using the innovative DNAgard solution, these samples can be shipped at ambient temperature in an envelope for an average cost of only $10.

SampleMatrix is based on extremophile biology in which organisms are able to survive long term in a state of anhydrobiosis (life without water) and later be revived by rehydration. Extremophiles such as tardigrades, also known as water bears are able to protect their DNA, RNA, proteins, membranes and cells in a dried state for extended periods of time. Biomatrica's technology mimics the natural molecular mechanisms used by these organisms.