The Institute of Cell Therapy is one of the world leaders in the manufacture and cryopreservation of placenta preparations for use in medicine. The leading scientists of the Institute of Cell Therapy have more than 50 years of experience working with the placenta. The placenta is a well-known source of mesenchymal stem cells and biologically active substances, but the amniotic membrane obtained from the placenta is no less valuable.
As we reported earlier, scientists of the Institute of Cell Therapy have created a method of treating gunshot and mine-explosive wounds using the amniotic membrane for Ukrainian soldiers. And the method of surgical treatment of keratitis using the amniotic membrane developed by the Institute of Cell Therapy together with the state institution “Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy n.a. V.P. Filatov” of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine is recognized abroad.
Increased interest in cryopreservation of the amniotic membrane and its use in traumatology, ophthalmology, and gynecology is observed all over the world. In recent years, the number of publications in this field in international scientific journals has increased, and in 2024, the paper of Ameneh Jafari et al. devoted to the comparison of different methods of the amniotic membrane storage (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37840108/) was published in the journal Cell and Tissue Banking. The authors also present 13 clinical trials in which the amniotic membrane of the placenta is used
The amniotic membrane is the inner layer of the placenta, a membrane with unique biomechanical properties that make it an ideal bio-dressing for wounds. The first published reports of the use of amniotic membrane as a skin graft date back to 1910.
The thickness of the amniotic membrane is 0.02-0.5 mm. The amniotic membrane contains epitheliocytes, stem cells and precursors of connective tissue – fibroblasts. The latter synthesize the main protein of connective tissue, collagen, which accelerates epithelization processes. Fibroblasts of the amniotic membrane contain collagen types I, III, VI, as well as fibronectin and laminin proteins.
The amniotic membrane of the placenta is a source of compounds important for wound healing, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha and beta, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), etc.
According to the research data of Ameneh Jafari et al. (2024) mentioned above, cryopreservation is the most effective method of storing the amniotic membrane of the placenta. Other methods are based on drying the amniotic membrane. The Cryobank of the Institute of Cell Therapy carries out cryopreservation of the amniotic membrane in accordance with the best world standards.
Based on: Jafari A et al. Comparison of the effects of preservation methods on structural, biological, and mechanical properties of the human amniotic membrane for medical applications. Cell Tissue Bank. 2024 Mar;25(1):305-323.
