US 12,616,191 B2 · Systems and methods for reversible cryopreservation

Abstract

Provided herein are systems, methods, and cryoprotective solutions for reversible cryopreservation of biological specimens, whole organs, and whole organisms. Exemplary methods include loading a cryoprotective agent into the biological specimen, cooling the biological specimen to a cryogenic temperature for preservation, storing the biological specimen at a preservation temperature state to preserve the biological specimen, rewarming the biological specimen by increasing a temperature of the biological specimen above the preservation temperature state, and unloading the cryoprotective agent from the biological specimen. The cooling is performed at a first rate to reduce ice formation, substantially homogeneously to reduce propensity for cracking of the preserved biological specimen, and at a first pressure to prevent or reduce ice expansion within the preserved biological specimen. The rewarming is performed at a second rate to reduce ice formation, substantially homogeneously to reduce propensity for cracking, and at a second pressure to prevent or reduce ice expansion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for cryopreserving a biological tissue, the system comprising:

a perfusive cooling chamber for holding the biological tissue;
one or more pumps configured to perfuse a plurality of fluids and a plurality of magnetic nanoparticles into the perfusive cooling chamber and into the biological tissue, the plurality of fluids comprising:
a cryoprotective fluid comprising one or more cryoprotective agents,
a first inert fluid, wherein the first inert fluid has a higher viscosity than the cryoprotective fluid, and
a second inert fluid,
wherein:
in a first configuration, the one or more pumps perfuse the cryoprotective fluid into the perfusive cooling chamber and into the biological tissue,
in a second configuration, the one or more pumps perfuse the first inert fluid into the perfusive cooling chamber and into the biological tissue,
in a third configuration, the one or more pumps perfuse the second inert fluid into the perfusive cooling chamber and into the biological tissue, and
in a fourth configuration, the one or more pumps perfuse the second inert fluid and the plurality of magnetic nanoparticles into the perfusive cooling chamber and into the biological tissue.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for reversible cryopreservation

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for reversible cryopreservation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20