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Measuring the Densities of Aqueous Glasses at Cryogenic Temperatures
Published on: June 28, 2017
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How cryoprotectants work: hydrogen-bonding in low-temperature vitrified solutions.
1Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin Austin TX 78712 USA cbaiz@cm.utexas.edu.
Chemical Science
|September 21, 2022
Summary
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) disrupts water hydrogen bonds, primarily near the DMSO molecule. This localized disruption explains why high DMSO concentrations are essential for effective cryopreservation of biological materials.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a vital cryoprotectant for biological materials.
- DMSO's mechanism involves disrupting water hydrogen bonds to prevent ice crystal formation.
- Detailed characterization of DMSO-water interactions at low temperatures remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the temperature-dependent hydrogen bonding interactions between DMSO and water.
- To understand the localized effects of DMSO on water structure.
- To provide insights into cryoprotectant efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) on DMSO-deuterated water (HDO) mixtures.
- Molecular dynamics simulations.
- Vibrational frequency map analysis.
Main Results:
- Broad O-D stretch vibrational spectra indicate disrupted hydrogen bond networks in DMSO-water compared to pure water.
- Simulations reveal that hydrogen bond disruption is localized to DMSO's first hydration shell.
- Disruption intensifies with decreasing temperature from 30 °C to -80 °C.
Conclusions:
- DMSO's cryoprotective effect is linked to localized disruption of water hydrogen bonds.
- The findings explain the necessity of high DMSO concentrations for cryopreservation.
- This study offers a molecular-level understanding of DMSO-water interactions crucial for cryobiology.
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