BACKGROUND: The development of encapsulation technologies has played an important role in improving cryopreservation outcomes for many cell and tissue types over the past 20 years. Alginate encapsulation cryopreservation (AECryo) has been incorporated into a range of applications in biotechnology, species conservation and clinical therapies, using cells from many different phyla, including higher plants, animal and human cells. This review describes the background to the origins of AECryo, the development of AECryo in higher plant tissues, broadening to current applications in algal conservation, the roles for AECryo in preserving phytodiversity, fungal species and in animal and human cells. OBJECTIVE: The main aims are to provide information resources on AECryo in different areas of biology and to stimulate new ideas for wider applications and future improvement. The translation of this useful biopreservation strategy into new opportunities for cell cryopreservation and storage at non-freezing temperatures are also discussed.

CABI Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 8DE UK

Damar Research Scientists Damar Drum Road Cuparmuir Fife KY15 5RJ Scotland UK

Department of Biochemistry Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine NAS Ukraine Kharkiv Ukraine; Department of Biomaterials and Biophysical Methods Institute of Experimental Medicine Prague Czech Republic; UNESCO Chair in Cryobiology NAS Ukraine Kharkiv Ukraine

Department of Biochemistry Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine NAS Ukraine Kharkiv Ukraine; UNESCO Chair in Cryobiology NAS Ukraine Kharkiv Ukraine

Division of Surgery and Interventional Sciences UCL Medical School Royal Free Hospital London NW3 2QG UK; UNESCO Chair in Cryobiology NAS Ukraine Pereyaslavska 23 61015 Kharkiv Ukraine

Vitrification Ability of Combined and Single Cryoprotective Agents