Cryopreservation Fluid Nanodroplets for Cell Viability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryopreservation methods often result in damaged cells due to ice formation and metabolic byproducts, leading to low post-thaw viability rates, especially with the addition of hydrophobic moieties which can be toxic and ineffective in enhancing cell preservation.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of surface energy into the cryopreservation fluid by creating unnaturally small lipid droplets, allowing for the use of previously unsuitable hydrophobic substances like lipids, which enhances thermal energy removal and addition, thereby improving cell viability and stability during freezing and thawing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If hydrophobic substances like lipids are added to cryopreservation fluid, then thermal energy removal and addition is enhanced, but the substances can be toxic and ineffective in enhancing cell preservation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and distribution parameters of hydrophobic substances by creating extremely small droplets (nanometer scale) through high-energy mixing. This parameter change transforms the substances from a harmful state (large droplets or bulk) to a beneficial state (nanodroplets), enabling thermal energy enhancement without toxicity while maintaining the substances' thermal properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cryopreservation fluid system that combines aqueous cryoprotectant solution with dispersed hydrophobic nanodroplets. This composite structure allows the hydrophobic substances to function as thermal enhancers without direct contact toxicity, as they remain in a stabilized dispersed phase throughout the freezing and thawing process
2Stability of the object's composition
If cryopreservation is performed to preserve cell structure, then structural integrity is maintained, but cell viability is often damaged upon thawing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by adding hydrophobic substances in nanodroplet form to the cryopreservation fluid before freezing begins. These pre-dispersed nanodroplets are positioned to facilitate rapid heat removal during freezing and rapid heat addition during thawing, preventing ice crystal formation damage and metabolic byproduct accumulation that would otherwise occur
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful effect of hydrophobic substance toxicity into a beneficial thermal management mechanism. By transforming the substances into nanodroplets, their toxicity is eliminated while their thermal properties are harnessed to control freezing and thawing rates, turning a harmful factor into a protective mechanism for 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
This approach increases post-cryogenic viability by stabilizing the cellular system, reducing damage during freezing and thawing, and enhancing the shelf life of cryopreserved samples, while making hydrophobic substances more bioavailable.
Implementation Method 1
enhances thermal energy removal and addition
Implementation Method 2
removing thermal energy from said cellular collection; freezing said cellular collection by reducing the temperature of said cellular collection below the freezing point of water
Implementation Method 3
freezing by definition is an exothermic reaction (reducing heat energy) and is explained by a phase change from a liquid to a solid by removing energy
Implementation Method 4
the endothermic reaction, or addition of energy to return the cell to its normal metabolic status
Data Source
AI summary
An improved cryopreservation process and substances can involve a cellular collection (1) in a cryopreservation fluid (4) that has been conditioned or treated (7) to enhance the cryopreservation process by adding (18) energy (19) such as in the surface energy of a substance in the cryopreservation fluid (4) prior to reducing energy for that same cryopreservation media for freezing. This can offer enhanced-post-cryogenic viability of the cryopreserved structures or a more optimum cooling curve (22) for a specific cell type.