Heat transfer during cryopreservation by perfusion through the vascular system

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Thermodynamics
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Uniform freezing and thawing of biological tissue are critical for preservation and transplantation.
• Current perfusion methods face challenges in achieving consistent temperature distribution throughout vascular networks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of uniform tissue freezing/thawing via vascular perfusion.
• To develop a criterion for evaluating the thermal performance of perfusion fluids.
• To assess the efficacy of existing heat transfer fluids for uniform tissue thermal management.

Main Methods:

• Analytical study of heat transfer dynamics within a vascular system.
• Development of a thermal performance evaluation criterion for heat transfer fluids.
• Modeling of fluid perfusion for thermal energy transport through biological tissue.

Main Results:

• A simple criterion for evaluating thermal performance was established.
• Identified that previously considered perfusion fluids are insufficient for uniform heat transfer.
• Demonstrated limitations in achieving uniform freezing or thawing through vascular perfusion with current fluids.

Conclusions:

• Uniform freezing or thawing of biological tissue by perfusion is not achievable with existing heat transfer fluids.
• The developed criterion highlights the inadequacy of past fluid choices for uniform thermal control.
• Further research is needed to identify or develop fluids capable of uniform thermal management in vascular systems.