title: Devitrification and recrystallization of nanoparticle-containing glycerol and PEG-600 solutions.
abstract: Nanoparticles in solution offer unique electrical, mechanical and thermal properties due to their physical presence and interaction with the state of dispersion. This work is aimed to study the effects of hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles on the devitrification and recrystallization events of two important cryoprotective solutions used in cell and tissue preservation namely glycerol (60%w/w) and PEG-600 (50%w/w). HA nanoparticles (20, 40 or 60 nm) were incorporated into solutions at the content of 0.1% or 0.5%(w/w), and were studied by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and cryomicroscopy. The presence of nanoparticles does not change the glass transition temperatures and melting temperatures of quenched solutions, but significantly affects the behavior of devitrification and recrystallization upon warming. Cryomicroscopic investigation showed the complex interactions among solution type, nanoparticle size and nanoparticle content, which apparently influence ice crystal growth or recrystallization in the quenched dispersions. These findings have significant implications for biomaterial cryopreservation, cryosurgery, and food manufacturing. The complexity of ice crystal growth kinetics in nanoparticle-containing dispersions remains to be poorly understood at the moment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biothermal Science and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Fukou
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biothermal Science and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: blliuk@163.com.
authors.forename: Baolin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biothermal Science and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Weijie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biothermal Science and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ganesh K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Jaganathan
mesh_terms: D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D005615:Freezing; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry*; D007053:Ice / Q000032:analysis; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D058989:Vitrification
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D007053:Ice; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017886:Durapatite; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Cryopreservation; Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles; Ice crystal geometry; Phase separation; Phase transition; Quenched dispersion