Is vitrification an alternative to standard cryopreservation (slow cooling)?
Conventional methods of cryopreservation have been developed to accomodate the consequences of ice formation. Vitrification is a process which, by combining the use of concentrated solutions with rapid cooling avoids the formation of ice. Samples reach low temperatures in a glassy state, which has the molecular structure of a viscous liquid and is not crystalline. This method has the potential advantages of being rapid and not requiring controlled rate cooling equipment. Good survival of mammalian embryos and oocytes have been reported by vitrification. However, this approach is still experimental and the high levels of additives that are necessary to achieve vitrification are potentially cytotoxic. There are many disadvantages The technique is highly operator dependent:- the timing of the processing steps are critical and require a high level of training, in contrast to slow freezing. It is known that vitrified solutions tend to devitrify, i.e. to crystallise into ice, during long ter
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