Cryopreservation has underpinned several scientific advancements, including assisted reproductive technology, stem cell therapies, and species preservation. However, current cryoprotective agents like dimethylsulfoxide and glycerol have notable limitations, including toxicity and inefficacy for numerous cell types and tissues. In this episode, we host Dr. Bryant, who has recently made a groundbreaking stride towards developing more effective cryoprotectants.

Dr. Bryant's team has been investigating the use of deep eutectic solvents as cryoprotective agents, and their research has provided promising results. They examined six deep eutectic solvents for their cryoprotective abilities for mammalian cells, studying their thermal properties, toxicity, and cell permeability. The researchers found a deep eutectic solvent made from proline and glycerol to be a particularly effective cryoprotective agent for all tested cell types, even with extended pre-freeze incubation.

The success of this solvent represents a significant leap forward in cryopreservation, as it exhibited less toxicity and higher effectiveness than its individual components, underlining the value of multi-component systems. The post-thaw cells were characterized using atomic force microscopy and confocal microscopy, with molecular dynamics simulations corroborating the biophysical parameters obtained experimentally.

Join us as Dr. Bryant walks us through the exciting potential of deep eutectic solvents in cryopreservation, opening doors for the development of thousands of new cryoprotective agents and potential advancements in organ and tissue preservation.

Keywords: Cryopreservation, Deep Eutectic Solvents, Dr. Bryant, Cryoprotective Agents, Proline, Glycerol, Organ Preservation, Tissue Preservation.

https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TB00573E