What is it?
Cryobiology is the study of how living or non-living organisms are affected by extremely low temperatures. Early processes of this have been used in medicine to stop blood flow from wounds. Now, a gas called nitrogen, is used to freeze cells during organ transplant procedures. This type of freezing can allow the preservation of blood and embryos. Besides benefitting the organs, it benefits agriculture in that it allows mass production ("What is Cryobiology"). Its process involves the use of cryoprotectants, a solute. The presence of high concentrations of low molecular weight solutes in model membrane systems reduces the incidence of the effects associated with dehydration damage: they reduce the elevation of the membrane transition temperature and they reduce the occurrence of non-lamellar phases. This may be one reason why freeze- and desiccation- adapted species have evolved to accumulate solutes, often sucrose, trehalose or other sugars ("Cryobiology and"). For food products, it goes through a different process, called lyophilization (Learn More on Lyophilization). These studies have been put into action for the benefits of humankind, ranging from the attempt of renewal of organs, the preservation of others, and the removal of unnecessary tissues.
Branches of Cryobiology
Cryopreservation
Cryonics
Cryosurgery
Technology
The Air Liquide Healthcare America Corporation provides laboratories with equipment such as the following ("Leading Edge"):
- Cryogenic gases and piping
- Cylinders and bulk tanks
- Liquid nitrogen freezers and dewars
- Mechanical freezers
- Racks and inventory systems for freezers
- Labels and barcodes
- Dry shippers and data loggers
- Incubators
- Biosafety cabinets and hoods
- Alarm systems and sample tracking
- Installation and preventive maintenance services.
The Lab Series dewars are the most "economical and convenient" way of dispensing and storing nitrogen.
Air Liquide Healthcare also provides labs with cryogenic hoses and accessories for Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Argon Cryogenic Liquids.
Challenges
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Brain Vitrification (Wowk) Read More.
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The lethality of the cooling and warming processes associated with the intermediate zone of temperature (-10°C to -60°C) that cells must traverse twice—once during cooling and once during warming (Gregory).
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Unsuccessful removal of molecules; the same sizes between useful proteins and toxic substances are difficult to differentiate (Gregory).
