title: Microscopic study of crystal growth in cryopreservation agent solutions and water.
abstract: Ice formation inside or outside cells during cryopreservation is evidently the main factor of cryoinjury to cells. In the study described here a high voltage DC electric field and a cryomicroscopic stage were used to test DMSO and NaCl solutions under electric field strengths ranging from 83 kV/m to 320 kV/m. Dendritic ice crystals became asymmetric when the electric field was activated. This change in the ice crystal shape was more pronounced in the ionic NaCl solution. In addition, ice growth of distilled water without an electric field was tested under different cooling rates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Shanghai University of Science and Technology, China. taurusq@public4.sta.net.cn
authors.forename: Le-Ren
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Tse-Chao
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D004560:Electricity; D005615:Freezing; D007053:Ice; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D007053:Ice; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide