Microinjection of cryoprotectants for preservation of cells
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorsMehmet Toner, Ali Eroglu, Thomas Toth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preservation method for biological material having cell membranes includes microinjecting the cells with sugar; preparing the cells for storage; storing the biological material; and recovering the stored biological material from storage. The invention also features a method of culturing a cell in vitro using a hypertonic medium. Carbohydrate sugars such as trehalose, sucrose, fructose, dextran, and raffinose, may be used as bio-protective agents or in the culture medium.
Claims26
A method of culturing an oocyte in vitro, comprising microinjecting into the cytoplasm of said oocyte a protective agent which (i) comprises a sugar, and (ii) is substantially non-permeating with respect to mammalian cell membranes and incubating said oocyte in a hypertonic medium having an osmolarity greater than 300 mosm.
A method of culturing an embryo in vitro comprising microinjecting into the cytoplasm of said embryo a protective agent which (i) comprises a sugar, and (ii) is substantially non-permeating with respect to mammalian cell membranes and incubating said embryo in a hypertonic medium having an osmolarity greater than 300 mosm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.