CryoMaxx™ Placental Processing Unlocks the Full Healing Power of the Placenta

Americord’s unique proprietary CryoMaxx™ processing method uses a minimal manipulation method to isolate the amnion and chorion layers of the placental tissue and retain their inherent multipotent cells, growth factors, and cytokines. 

The amnion and chorion are cryopreserved and stored in multiple vials, ensuring the potential for multiple uses for your baby, siblings, parents, or grandparents. This processing method creates a versatile tissue and gives families the flexibility to use:

• Amniotic epithelial cells, amniotic mesenchymal stem cells, and chorion trophoblast stem cells for therapeutic applications.
• Amniotic tissue (amnion + chorion) containing multi-potent cells, growth factors, and cytokines for wound and ocular applications.

The placenta is a disc-shaped organ that develops during pregnancy and is attached to the wall of the uterus. It connects to the baby via the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord delivers oxygen and nutrients to the baby and removes waste products from the baby. 

The placenta holds an important role during pregnancy. It acts as a barrier to bacteria and viruses to protect the baby. It also produces hormones and signaling molecules that help the baby grow. 

Did you know? In a study characterizing the placenta, researchers determined that the placenta contains 65% of all the proteins found in the entire human body, which includes growth factors and cytokines.

The placental membrane consists of an amnion layer and a chorion layer. The amnion is baby facing. The chorion is maternal facing.

As researchers have studied placental membranes in more depth, they have learned that each part of the placental membrane plays a significant role in regenerative medicine. The key elements of placental membranes include:⁵  

• Amniotic Epithelial Cells (AECs): Present on the top-most layer of amnion and can differentiate into various types of cells and tissue types.⁶
• Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AMSCs): Multi-potent stem cells capable of differentiating into a number of different cell and tissue types.⁷
• Chorion Trophoblast Stem Cells (CTSCs): Present in the lowermost layer of chorion and are precursor cells of differentiated cells of the placenta responsible for oxygen and nutrient exchange
• Growth Factors: Signaling molecules that regulate cell growth and tissue regeneration.
• Cytokines: Signaling molecules that regulate inflammation.
• Extracellular Matrix (ECM): A three-dimensional structure consisting of various collagens and proteins that directs cellular behavior such as differentiation, proliferation, and signaling.

Top: Scientific illustration of the layers of placental membrane. The amnion contains two types of stem cells, the amniotic epithelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells. Bottom: Top down view of the amnion showing the prevalence of amniotic epithelial cells.⁴

The placental membrane has been used for more than a century to successfully treat wounds and burns.¹⁻³ The first known application was at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1910. 

Amniotic epithelial cells and amniotic mesenchymal stem cells are currently being studied for:⁸⁻⁹

• Autoimmune diseases
• Cancer
• Graft vs Host disease
• Gynecological conditions
• Lung diseases
• Neurological disorders
• Orthopedic conditions
• Expanding Cord Blood HSCs

Placenta tissue containing multi-potent cells, growth factors, cytokines, and ECM is being studied in a number of clinical trials. The amnion layer was specifically chosen by scientists because it has a structure that is similar to that of skin and ocular surfaces:¹⁰⁻¹⁶

Amnion Membrane are currently being studied for:

• Corneal Healing
• Dry Eye

Amnion + Chorion Membranes are currently being studied for:

• Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers
• Diabetic Foot Ulcers
• Knee Osteoarthritis
• Pressure Ulcers

The amnion has a structure similar to that of skin making it an ideal option as a skin substitute to treat wounds.¹⁰

References:

• Davis J (1910) Skin transplantation with a review of 550 cases at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Johns Hopkins Med J 15:307
• Sabella N (1913) Use of the fetal membranes in skin grafting. Med Rec 83:478–480
• Stern M (1913) The grafting of preserved amniotic membranes to burned and ulcerated surfaces, substituting skin grafts. JAMA 60:973
• Torre, Paz d.l., and Ana I. Flores. 2021. “Current Status and Future Prospects of Perinatal Stem Cells” Genes 12, no. 1: 6. 
• Elkhenany et al. Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2022) 13:8
• Zhang, Q., Lai, D. Application of human amniotic epithelial cells in regenerative medicine: a systematic review. Stem Cell Res Ther 11, 439 (2020). 
• Front. Endocrinol., 02 October 2020 
• Zhang, Q., Lai, D. Application of human amniotic epithelial cells in regenerative medicine: a systematic review. Stem Cell Res Ther 11, 439 (2020). 
• Mamede et al. Cell Tissue Res (2012) 349:447–458
• Farhadihosseinabadi,Behrouz et al. (2018) Amniotic membrane and its epithelial and mesenchymal stem cells as an appropriate source for skin tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 46:sup2, 431-440, 
• Farivar, Behzad S et al. “Prospective study of cryopreserved placental tissue wound matrix in the management of chronic venous leg ulcers.” Journal of vascular surgery. Venous and lymphatic disorders vol. 7,2 (2019): 228-233. doi:10.1016/j.jvsv.2018.09.016
• Liu, Jinghua et al. Effectiveness of Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in Corneal Ulceration: A Meta-Analysis, Cornea: April 2019 – Volume 38 – Issue 4 – p 454-462 doi: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000001866
• Lavery, Lawrence et al. “Open-label Extension Phase of a Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcer Multicenter, Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial Using Cryopreserved Placental Membrane.” Wounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice vol. 30,9 (2018): 283-289.
• Cheng, Anny et al. “Accelerated Restoration of Ocular Surface Health in Dry Eye Disease by Self-Retained Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane” Science Direct. (2015). 
•  CTG labs - NCBI. (n.d.).
• Dehghani, Mehdi et al. “Grafting with Cryopreserved Amniotic Membrane versus Conservative Wound Care in Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” Bulletin of emergency and trauma vol. 5,4 (2017): 249-258. doi:10.18869/acadpub.beat.5.4.452.

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