Comparison of Cryopreservation Conditions on the Performance of NISTCHO Cells

The NISTCHO cell line is a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line engineered to produce cNISTmAb, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the fusion F glycoprotein on the surface of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). These cells are invaluable as a standard reference material for developers of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and serve as an educational resource in biomanufacturing training programs. This study investigates the performance of NISTCHO cells following cryopreservation at temperatures of -80°C and -150°C. Initial cell viability, maximum cell density in culture, and monoclonal antibody production were compared for cells cryopreserved for up to 30 weeks. Cells were thawed and cultured at two-week intervals to monitor their growth behavior, peak cell densities, and antibody production levels. Analysis of cell behavior in culture revealed no significant differences in cell growth or cell production between cells stored at -80°C and those stored at -150°C. These findings affirm that NISTCHO cells can be preserved at -80°C for up to 30 weeks without any adverse effects on their growth or monoclonal antibody production capabilities, an important finding for training and education programs that rely on -80° C freezers to store cell banks.