Production and use of high pressure for cryopreservation and cryofixation

Abstract

Methods and devices are described for the concurrent delivery of elevated pressures and low temperatures to a sample, typically but not exclusively a biological sample. A medium that expands on cooling and/or freezing is employed with a sample immersed therein, typically but not exclusively encased in a sample container. Cooling the medium lowers the temperature and applies pressure to the sample such that reduced damage to a typical biosample occurs. Relatively long-lived metastable phases are also produced, including both metastable liquids and solids, without the need for very rapid cooling steps as required in conventional achievement of such metastable phases. Preliminary test data are also presented.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a utility patent application filed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §111 (a), and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 from provisional patent application 61 / 463,727 filed Feb. 22, 2011. The entire contents of the aforesaid provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the general field of the production of use of high pressures applied isostatically to a sample or workpiece, more particularly to high pressures in combination with low temperatures for the cryopreservation or cryofixation of biological samples.

[0004] 2. Background and Related Art

[0005] An important challenge affecting many aspects of medical, biological, chemical, agricultural and food sciences is the long-term storage and preservation of various substances whose properties tend to degrade over time. Even when storage procedures exist and ...

Images