Lab on a Chip: Cryopreservation

Microfluidics-driven automation (also called lab-on-a-chip technology) and its potential applications in clinical cryopreservation workflows have shown a lot of interest recently. Clear advantages such as reproducibility, precise dynamic flow control, reagent, and cost reduction fit the needs of an embryology lab that has still many manual steps and demonstrated variability in outcomes. There have been many breakthroughs in the last decade with industrial applications; however, the daily use in fertility clinics and embryology labs is yet to materialize. There is a need to develop strategies to complete the cycle of development, from funding to regulatory approval and commercialization. Solutions to these challenges will require much capital and innovation to transfer the technology from the academic space to the clinic. Nevertheless, the scene is set for a major paradigm shift with ventures that have recently been undertaken to move the field forward and introduce a point-of-care medical device with lab-on-a-chip technology.