High sub-zero organ preservation: A paradigm of nature-inspired strategies

Chill injury in human kidney tubule cells after subzero storage is not mitigated by antifreeze protein addition

“…The human RPTEC/TERT1 cells 19 used in this study are derived from kidney cells that undergo apoptosis in response to SCS, so they are a useful proxy with which to assess the potential effects of SZ-SCS on human kidneys. Unfortunately, the potential benefits of SZ-SCS, namely the 2-fold reduction in metabolic rate predicted by the 10-degree decrease in storage temperature 5 was eclipsed by damage associated with the low but non-freezing temperatures as evidenced by decreased cell viability, increased LDH release and apoptosis, reduced adhesion, and impaired proliferation.…”

“…Storing freeze-sensitive biological materials at subzero temperatures in an unfrozen state (subzero static cold storage (SZ-SCS)) could provide a simple, cost-effective solution as the metabolic processes that can lead to ischaemic damage decrease with decreasing temperature 5 . The feasibility of this approach was best demonstrated using rat livers that were successfully transplanted after 4 days of storage at −6 °C 6 .…”

World’s first en bloc heart-lung transplantation using the paragonix lungguard donor preservation system

“…Organ transplantation is a reliable and effective method to treat end stage organ failure. Around 150,000 solid organs are successfully transplanted yearly across the globe with heart and lung 5-year survival rate exceeding 50% [ 1 ]. Highly standardized protocols and techniques are employed during solid organ procurement preservation and transportation to protect donor allografts and enable the utilization of more organs.…”

Membrane stabilization versus perturbation by aromatic monoamine-modified γ-PGA for cryopreservation of human RBCs with high intracellular trehalose

“…1,2 Chilling injury to cells by ice nucleation and osmotic stress triggered by cold temperatures at sub-zero is generally inhibited by the cryoprotectant. 3 However, a time-consuming deglycerolization procedure after thawing, which is necessary to prevent intravascular hemolysis, is not conducive to emergent treatments. 4 Research studies on new cryoprotectants were mainly focused on trehalose, proline, antifreeze (glyco)proteins, and synthetic antifreeze protein-analogues.…”