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ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN CD: 1-56700-226-9

ISBN Online: 1-56700-225-0

International Heat Transfer Conference 13
August, 13-18, 2006, Sydney, Australia

BIOPRESERVATION: CELLULAR ENGINEERING FOR SUSPENDED ANIMATION

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC13.p30.50
12 pages

Abstract

Cellular injury that results from freezing and thawing has been the object of scientific study for more than 60 years [1]. The concept of preserving cells and tissues for long periods of time by freezing them has led to a continual interest in how and why cells are damaged when they are exposed to cold temperatures. Successful preservation of human red blood cells by freezing in the early 1950's made successful organ preservation and possibly even suspended animation appear to be within reach. Researchers increased their efforts to understand the sources of damage to cells that experienced freezing and ways to prevent that damage. It turns out that preventing cellular damage during freezing is far more difficult than most people imagined in 1950. In this presentation I will review our current understanding of cellular injury and highlight the aspects of cellular injury during cryopreservation that are still poorly understood, and then discuss some of the more recent approaches to low temperature biology. Special emphasis will be given to the thermodynamic and transport aspects of biopreservation.