Improved tissue cryopreservation using inductive heating of magnetic nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cryobiology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Vitrification offers benefits for tissue cryopreservation, including indefinite storage and transplantation facilitation.
• Current convective warming methods are limited to small volumes (approx. 1 ml), hindering scalability.
• Successful rewarming requires uniform and rapid temperature changes to prevent damage and crystallization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a scalable nanowarming technology for larger tissue volumes vitrified in VS55.
• To assess the efficacy of nanowarming in achieving rapid and uniform rewarming of biological tissues.
• To evaluate the impact of nanowarming on tissue viability and biomechanical properties.

Main Methods:

• Utilized radiofrequency-excited mesoporous silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for nanowarming in VS55 cryoprotectant.
• Employed advanced imaging techniques (sweep imaging with Fourier transform, microcomputed tomography) for verification.
• Tested nanowarming on physical samples (1-80 ml) and biological systems (human cells, porcine arteries, heart valve leaflets; 1-50 ml).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated uniform and rapid rewarming (>130°C/min) in physical and biological systems up to 80 ml.
• Achieved cell and tissue viability comparable to or exceeding controls and gold standards in 1-50 ml volumes.
• Showcased no significant changes in biomechanical properties of porcine arteries post-nanowarming.

Conclusions:

• Nanowarming technology provides a scalable solution for rewarming larger volumes of vitrified tissues.
• This method enhances tissue viability and preserves structural integrity, overcoming limitations of current cryopreservation techniques.
• The findings support the potential of nanowarming for improved tissue banking and transplantation outcomes.