Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

4.0K
Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...
4.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Electric fields for warming cryopreserved tissue.

Cryobiology·2026
Same author

In Memoriam - William F. Rall: Impacting science, impacting people.

Cryobiology·2025
Same author

55 MHz constant field dielectric warming of kidneys and ovaries cryopreserved by vitrification.

Cryobiology·2025
Same author

Biostasis: A Roadmap for Research in Preservation and Potential Revival of Humans.

Brain sciences·2024
Same author

27 MHz constant field dielectric warming of kidneys cryopreserved by vitrification.

Cryobiology·2024
Same author

Model biological systems demonstrate the inducibility of pathways that strongly reduce cryoprotectant toxicity.

Cryobiology·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
08:46

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

Published on: September 16, 2021

6.4K

Principles of Ice-Free Cryopreservation by Vitrification.

Gregory M Fahy1, Brian Wowk2

  • 121st Century Medicine, Inc., Fontana, CA, USA. gfahy@21cm.com.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 16, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Vitrification offers a superior alternative to traditional freezing for cryopreservation, avoiding ice damage and simplifying protocols. While requiring higher cryoprotectant concentrations, risks are manageable, enabling broad biological applications.

Keywords:
BiobankingChilling injuryCryopreservationCryoprotectant toxicityCryoprotective agentsDevitrificationFreezingGlass transitionGlassy stateIntracellular ice formationOptimal cooling rateOrgan preservationOsmotic limitsProtein denaturationRecrystallizationVitrification

More Related Videos

Bulk Droplet Vitrification for Primary Hepatocyte Preservation
11:07

Bulk Droplet Vitrification for Primary Hepatocyte Preservation

Published on: October 25, 2019

5.9K
Cryopreservation of Mouse Embryos by Ethylene Glycol-Based Vitrification
06:00

Cryopreservation of Mouse Embryos by Ethylene Glycol-Based Vitrification

Published on: November 18, 2011

31.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
08:46

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

Published on: September 16, 2021

6.4K
Bulk Droplet Vitrification for Primary Hepatocyte Preservation
11:07

Bulk Droplet Vitrification for Primary Hepatocyte Preservation

Published on: October 25, 2019

5.9K
Cryopreservation of Mouse Embryos by Ethylene Glycol-Based Vitrification
06:00

Cryopreservation of Mouse Embryos by Ethylene Glycol-Based Vitrification

Published on: November 18, 2011

31.9K

Area of Science:

  • Cryobiology
  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Vitrification is an ice-free cryopreservation method using cryogenic temperatures.
  • It avoids mechanical and chilling injury associated with ice formation during cooling.
  • Compared to freezing, vitrification simplifies protocols by removing the need for specific cooling/warming rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the fundamental principles of vitrification.
  • To highlight its potential applications in preserving biological systems.
  • To emphasize the need for a deeper understanding of vitrification for future advancements.

Main Methods:

  • The study reviews the physical and biological principles governing vitrification.
  • It discusses the advantages of vitrification over traditional cryopreservation by freezing.
  • It addresses challenges such as high cryoprotectant concentrations and their mitigation.

Main Results:

  • Vitrification eliminates ice formation, preventing associated cellular damage.
  • It simplifies cryopreservation by removing the need for precise cooling and warming rates.
  • While cryoprotectant toxicity and osmotic damage are concerns, they can be managed with careful techniques.

Conclusions:

  • Vitrification presents a promising method for preserving diverse biological materials, from molecules to whole organisms.
  • It offers a convenient and effective alternative to freezing, with potential for surviving harsh environmental conditions.
  • Further research into the underlying principles is crucial for optimizing current methods and developing novel strategies.