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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
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Rapid One-step Enzymatic Synthesis and All-aqueous Purification of Trehalose Analogues
Published on: February 17, 2017
Cell partitioning during the directional solidification of trehalose solutions
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1100 Mechanical Engineering, 111 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Cryobiology
|September 22, 2007
Summary
Trehalose, a cryoprotective agent, alters ice and cell interactions during freezing. This study reveals how trehalose affects cell entrapment versus engulfment, offering insights into its protective mechanism in cryopreservation.
Area of Science:
- Cryobiology
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cellular cryopreservation relies on cryoprotective agents to mitigate freezing damage.
- Trehalose is known to protect cells during freezing, but its mechanism during conventional slow freezing is unclear.
- Existing theories for trehalose's protective effects do not fully explain its benefits in conventional freezing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize cell/ice interactions in the presence of trehalose under non-planar freezing conditions.
- To investigate how different trehalose concentrations affect cell behavior during freezing.
- To elucidate the role of trehalose in modifying cell-ice interactions during cryopreservation.
Main Methods:
- Lymphoblasts were suspended in phosphate-buffered saline with varying trehalose concentrations (0-300 mM).
- Samples were frozen using a directional solidification stage to control freezing conditions.
- Cell partitioning (entrapment vs. engulfment) was analyzed as a function of freezing velocity and trehalose concentration.
Main Results:
- Increasing freezing velocity led to a higher fraction of cells entrapped in the interdendritic region.
- Low trehalose concentrations (10 mM) increased the velocity required for cell entrapment.
- High trehalose concentrations (100, 300 mM) altered interface morphology, causing cell engulfment and significant dehydration.
Conclusions:
- Trehalose modifies cell/ice interactions during conventional slow freezing.
- The mechanism of trehalose protection may involve altering the freezing interface and cell engulfment dynamics.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for optimizing cryopreservation protocols and improving post-thaw cell viability.
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