Compositions and methods for the preservation of living tissues

A method for the treatment of leukemia in a patient, comprising:

• (a) removing bone marrow from the patient;
• (b) contacting the bone marrow with a solution comprising a first solute selected from the group consisting of raffinose and trehalose, and a second solute selected from the group consisting of trimethyl amine oxide and betaine, wherein the solution is substantially free of iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate and bisulfate;
• (c) maintaining the bone marrow at a temperature of less than about 0° C. for a period of at least about 3 days to purge the bone marrow of leukemic cells;
• and
• (d) returning the purged bone marrow to the patient.

A method for the preservation of encapsulated cells, comprising:

• (a) contacting the encapsulated cells with a preservative solution, wherein the preservative solution comprises betaine, sodium chloride and calcium chloride, the preservative solution being substantially free of iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate and bisulfate;
• (b) cooling the eukaryotic cells to a temperature of less than about −140° C.;
• and
• (c) drying the encapsulated cells to provide a freeze-dried material.

A method for the preservation of encapsulated cells, comprising:

• (a) contacting the encapsulated cells with a preservative solution, wherein the preservative solution comprises betaine as the principal organic component and sodium chloride as the principal inorganic component, the preservative solution being substantially free of iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate and bisulfate;
• (b) cooling the encapsulated cells to a temperature of less than about −140° C.;
• and
• (c) drying the encapsulated cells to provide a freeze-dried material.

A method for the preservation of encapsulated cells, comprising:

• (a) contacting the encapsulated cells with a preservative solution in the absence of conventional cryoprotectants, wherein the preservative solution comprises trimethyl amine oxide and is substantially free of iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate and bisulfate;
• (d) cooling the encapsulated cells to a temperature of less than about −140° C.;
• and
• (e) drying the encapsulated cells to provide a freeze-dried material.