Cryopreservation of biological cells and tissues

A method for the cryopreservation of a biological cell, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a biological cell in a cell holder comprising sidewalls thereby forming a cup-shaped holding vessel and defining an open inlet to hold the biological cell for cryopreservation of the biological cell, wherein said cell holding vessel includes filtration means formed at a lower surface of said vessel;
• securing the cell holder containing the biological cell at a treatment station in a cell holder frame including a plurality of locating formations and secured to the treatment station, and providing each locating formation for securing a respective said cell holder, to thereby allow a plurality of corresponding cell holders to be secured to the frame in an array;
• subsequent to the securing, automatically applying a cryopreservation treatment solution to the biological cell at the treatment station;
• subsequent to the applying, and without delay, cooling said cell holder and biological cell to a predetermined cryopreservation temperature at a cooling station, such that said biological cell is cooled at a cooling rate sufficient to promote vitrification of the biological cell and surrounding cryopreservation treatment solution;
• and
• maintaining the biological cell at or below a storage temperature at the cooling station, wherein said step of applying a cryopreservation treatment solution includes the step of retaining said biological cell in said cell holder and allowing said cryopreservation treatment solution to flow through said cell holder.