Preservation of Engineered Tissue

Cell/Ice Crystal Interactions:

The objective of this research is to develop quantitative and predictive methods to improve cryopreservation protocols, to improve and enable preservation of biological cells for long-term storage. Our apporach is to use numerical modeling and experimental methods to improve our understanding of the important processes that occur during freezing of cell suspensions. The important questions to address include:

cell pushing, entrapment, and engulfment by the moving interface;
role of process parameters on microstructure and concomitant effect on cell capture;
redistribution of solute during freezing 

Relating all of these observations to cell survival upon thawing.

Photos taken in our laboratory:

Interaction of lymphobalsts with planar interface. (A) cells accumulate at the interface; (B) cells being incorporated/engulfed by the advancing interface; (C) interface being deformed by the presence of cells.