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Cryopreservation of mammalian tissues : injury caused by freezing and its prevention by control of ice crystal growth

Reference	E12952
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor David Pegg
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Dianna Bowles, Professor Andrew Marvin, Dr Martin Robinson, Dr Monica Wusteman
Institution	University of York
Department	Biology
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	335,128
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	04/01/2000
End date	04/01/2003
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Extracellular ice is generally innocuous to cells but severely damages tissues, presenting a barrier to the effective storage of a wider range of graft materials. This study investigates the direct role of ice in producing damage to a model tissue system (human vascular endothelial cells embedded in a gelatin gel) and to real tissues (gut smooth muscle, elastic artery and cornea). Based on existing physical data, methods will be developed to avoid the formation of ice by vitrifying, rather than freezing, these systems. Critical heating rates (sufficient to prevent devitrification during warming) will be established using electromagnetic heating methods that we have already developed for rapid heating. The critical heating rate will be reduced by incorporation of an 'antifreeze' (thermal hysteresis) protein that we have recently isolated from carrots.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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