title: Ionic liquids in embalming and tissue preservation. Can traditional formalin-fixation be replaced safely?
abstract: Ionic liquids (ILs) can be used for embalming and tissue preservation. ILs does not cause tissue damage and the tissue colour remains unaltered after treatment. Microscopical morphology of tissues fixed in ILs is of better quality than that of tissues fixed in formalin. Tissue preservation depends on the type of ILs. Best results were obtained with 1-methyl-3-octyloxymethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, the density of which resembles that of water. The salt is nonvaporous and when used as a formalin substitute, it eliminates health hazards in the pathological laboratory.
authors.affiliation: K. Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Majewski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pernak
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grzymisławski
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwanik
authors.forename: Juliusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pernak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D001881:Borates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004615:Embalming / Q000379:methods*; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007477:Ions / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008956:Models, Chemical; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D051381:Rats; D012492:Salts / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D012997:Solvents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: C481619:1-methyl-3-octyloxymethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate; D001881:Borates; D007093:Imidazoles; D007477:Ions; D012492:Salts; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D005557:Formaldehyde