Thermodynamic aspects of cluster crystallization in cryoprotective solutions
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Updated: May 31, 2026

Measuring the Densities of Aqueous Glasses at Cryogenic Temperatures
Published on: June 28, 2017
1Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kharkov, Ukraine. cryo@online.kharkov.ua
Abstract:
Crystallization of the solutions with quite a high intermolecular interaction of the components is analyzed. For the first time there has been considered the phenomenon of cluster crystallization of these solutions, enabling the reduction of total energy of intermolecular bonds, broken down during crystallization of the components has been discussed. A special priority is given to the cluster crystallization of aqueous solutions of cryoprotective substances close to vitrification temperature. Within this temperature range the mechanism of cluster crystallization is especially effective due to a sharp reduction of sizes of critical ice nucleation centers and diffusion mobility of molecules. This should be taken into account when designing the cryopreservation protocols for biological systems.
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