title: Thermal performance of quartz capillaries for vitrification.
abstract: In this paper we report the thermal behavior of a new approach for vitrification. Thermal performance of traditional open pulled straws is compared with a new technique based on the combined use of quartz capillaries with slush nitrogen. This new method of vitrification achieved ultrafast cooling rates of 250,000 degrees C/min. As a result, a much lower concentration of cryoprotectant was needed to reach vitrification. In fact, a cryoprotectant solution typically used in oocyte slow freezing protocols was shown to remain transparent after cooling to liquid nitrogen temperatures indicating apparent "vitrification". This approach offers a new and very promising technique for vitrification of cells using low levels of cryoprotectants.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Risco
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elmoazzen
authors.forename: Marshal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doughty
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toner
mesh_terms: D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D009584:Nitrogen; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D011791:Quartz; D013395:Sucrose; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D011791:Quartz; D013395:Sucrose; D019946:Propylene Glycol; D009584:Nitrogen