Coffee Extract Supercooling for Cell Viability Preservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preserving organs, tissues, or cells at non-freezing low temperatures either cause damage or require complex apparatus, and existing solutions are insufficient in preventing necrosis and cell viability loss.
Innovation Solution
A coffee extract, specifically a hot water extract or coffee melanoidin, is used as a low temperature damage alleviating agent and necrosis inhibitor, applied in a medium to preserve organs, tissues, or cells at non-freezing low temperatures, effectively reducing damage and inhibiting necrosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If refrigeration preservation at 0 to 4°C is used, then ease of operation is improved, but cell viability deteriorates due to metabolic reduction and ATP depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from conventional refrigeration (0-4°C) to non-freezing low temperature (below freezing point but without ice crystal formation), and introduces a supercooling accelerating substance to enable this parameter change, thereby delaying ATP depletion while maintaining cell viability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a supercooling accelerating substance (extracted from coffee beans containing aromatic hydrocarbon structure and carboxyl group) as an intermediary agent that enables water to remain in a non-freezing state below its freezing point, protecting cells from ice crystal damage while delaying metabolic rate
2Speed
If rapid freezing preservation method is used, then preservation speed is improved, but cell viability deteriorates due to tissue destruction from ice crystal formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of water from freezing to supercooling (remaining liquid below freezing point), preventing ice crystal formation while enabling rapid preservation, thus maintaining cell viability without sacrificing preservation speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of low temperature (which normally causes freezing and ice crystal damage) into a beneficial supercooled state where water remains liquid below freezing point, protecting cells from ice crystal damage while maintaining rapid preservation capability
3Reliability
If vitrification freezing method is used, then preservation effectiveness is improved, but cell damage occurs due to high concentration anti-freezing agents causing cytotoxicity and recrystallization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a supercooling accelerating substance extracted from coffee beans as a mild intermediary agent that enables supercooling without requiring high concentrations of toxic anti-freezing agents, thereby preventing both cytotoxicity and recrystallization damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a natural extract from coffee beans as a biodegradable, non-toxic alternative to conventional chemical anti-freezing agents, providing effective preservation without the harmful side effects of high concentration chemicals
4Reliability
If supercooling method using electric field space is used, then cell viability is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of complicated apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the preservation system to achieve supercooling through self-service by using a chemical substance (coffee extract) that inherently accelerates supercooling, eliminating the need for external electric field apparatus or complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electric field-based supercooling method with a chemical-based approach using supercooling accelerating substances, thereby eliminating the need for complicated apparatus while maintaining cell viability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The coffee extract and melanoidin significantly reduce low temperature damage and inhibit necrosis, allowing for stable preservation of organs, tissues, or cells without the need for complex equipment, making it suitable for transplantation, regenerative medicine, and research.
Implementation Method 1
a method of preserving a living tissue or cells in an electric field space having a field intensity of 0.3 kV/m to 1.0 kV/m, which prepares a state to generate supercooling so that water is in a non-freezing state at a temperature below the freezing point of water
Implementation Method 2
a low temperature damage alleviating agent or a necrosis inhibitor comprising a coffee extract
Data Source
AI summary
An organ, a tissue or cells of a living body can be preserved stably at a non-freezing low temperature without damaging the organ, the tissue or the cells, by the method of preserving an organ, a tissue or cells of a living body by using the low temperature damage alleviating agent or the necrosis inhibitor comprising a coffee extract of the present invention, or a medium comprising a coffee extract.