Formation of an outer glassy shell hinders the drying of trehalose droplets

Airflow drying of mammalian cells has not been successful yet, with one obstacle being the improper drying time of cells-laden trehalose droplets.

To evaluate the major factors affecting the drying kinetics of aqueous trehalose droplets.

A numerical analysis was applied to the evaporation behavior of aqueous trehalose droplets for the preservation of biomaterials. Factors such as convection caused by droplet contraction, vapor diffusion, and Stefan flow around droplets were taken into account in the analysis.

Reducing the size and initial concentration of the droplets helps to achieve rapid drying of droplets. Forced convection can effectively enhance the initial drying rate of droplets, which may mitigate cell damage caused by hypertonic solutions. Upon drying, however, the rapid formation of an outer glassy shell inhibits the further drying of trehalose droplets.

Simple enhancement of convection does not facilitate complete droplet vitrification due to the formation of an outer glassy shell that prevents water movement. https://doi.org/10.54680/fr25210110712.