“Cryopreservation is the use of extremely low temperatures to structurally preserve cells and tissues.”
What is Cryopreservation?
Cryopreservation is a method of deep freezing living cells, tissues and other biological samples for preservation or preservation at sub-zero temperatures The sample is usually stored at −196 °C.
At such low temperatures, all biological functions of the cell stop and the cell dies. Cryopreservation helps cells survive freezing and thawing.
Formation of ice inside cells can rupture cell membranes. This can be prevented by controlling ice movement, and choosing the ice location carefully.
Cryopreservation Process
In this method cells, embryos, sperm, tissues, ovarian tissue, pre-implantation embryos, organs and other biological material are kept at very cold temperatures without affecting the viability of the cell.
Cryopreservation Steps
Harvesting or picking materials – when selecting organic materials – weight, density, pH, morphology and some basic principles must be followed without any defect.
Addition of cryo-preservatives – Preservatives such as glycerol, FBS, salts, sugars and glycols are added to the sample as this reduces the viscosity of the material and slows the rate of cooling, reducing the risk of contaminating the crystal.
Freezing – Various freezing methods are used to protect cells from damage and cell death upon exposure to thermal solutions of cryoprotective agents.
Liquid Nitrogen Storage – Cryo-stored samples are stored in a very cold freezer or -80°C for at least 5 to 24 hours before transferring to storage containers.
Thawing – The process of heating biological samples to prevent cell damage caused by crystallization to control the rate of cooling.
Applications
Cryopreservation is a long-term storage method used primarily to preserve and maintain the long-term viability of biological samples.
This preservation technique is widely used in various fields such as cryosurgery, molecular biology, ecology, food science, plant physiology and many medical applications.
Sperm
The seed sample is mixed with a solution that provides protection during freezing and thawing. This is followed by transfer to plastic vials, which are then frozen in liquid nitrogen.
This procedure ensures the chances of future pregnancies. Sperm can be frozen, frozen and stored in cryobanks for less than a year. These sperm can then be used in some infertility treatments.
