Platelet ultrastructural changes stored at room temperature versus cold storage observed by electron microscopy and...

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Biotechnology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Platelet storage conditions significantly impact their structural integrity and clinical efficacy.
• Current storage methods for platelets, including room temperature storage, have limitations in extending shelf life.
• Understanding ultrastructural changes is crucial for optimizing platelet preservation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of cold-stored platelets (CSPs).
• To quantitatively analyze structural changes in platelets under different storage conditions.
• To determine the optimal storage duration for CSPs, room temperature-stored platelets (RTPs), and delayed-CSPs.

Main Methods:

• Comparative ultrastructural analysis using scanning and transmission electron microscopy at multiple time points.
• Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy to assess microtubule and mitochondrial dynamics.
• Concurrent measurement of platelet counts, metabolism, and functional indicators.
• Quantitative statistical analysis of platelet morphology and organelle integrity.

Main Results:

• CSPs stored for 14 days and delayed-CSPs for 10 days showed 92% structure-intact active cells.
• RTPs stored for 10 and 14 days exhibited significant degradation, with only 45% and 7% intact cells, respectively.
• Early changes in CSPs included shape alteration and microtubule reorganization, with later preservation of structure.

Conclusions:

• Cold storage extends platelet viability to 14 days, significantly longer than RTPs (5-7 days).
• Delayed cold storage offers a viable option up to 10 days.
• Ultrastructural analysis confirms CSPs as a superior method for long-term platelet preservation.