Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation preserves cells, tissues, or other biological material at very low temperatures, slowing chemical reactions and biological degradation. It relies on cooling and storage methods that limit damage from ice formation and other stresses.

Cryoprotectant: A substance added to biological material to reduce damage during freezing or vitrification. These compounds limit ice-related and osmotic injury during cooling.
Sperm cryopreservation: The freezing and storage of sperm cells for later use in reproduction. Sperm banking is an established clinical use of cryopreservation.
Cryobiology: The study of how low temperatures affect biological systems. Cryopreservation is a practical method developed from cryobiological research.
Lyophilization: A drying process that removes water from frozen material by sublimation under reduced pressure. It preserves some biological products without keeping them frozen during storage.
Vitrification: The transformation of a liquid into an amorphous glass-like solid without crystallization. It avoids ice crystals by solidifying samples into a glass-like state.
Oocyte cryopreservation: The freezing and storage of unfertilized egg cells for later use in reproduction. Egg freezing applies cryopreservation to a large, water-rich cell.
Cell membrane: A selectively permeable boundary that separates a cell from its surroundings. Membrane structure and permeability shape cell injury during freezing and thawing.
Hypothermic preservation: The temporary preservation of biological material at low, nonfreezing temperatures. It slows metabolism without exposing samples to ice formation.
Ice crystal: A solid structure formed when water molecules arrange into a crystalline lattice. Growing crystals can puncture membranes and disrupt cellular structures.
Embryo cryopreservation: The freezing and storage of embryos for later transfer in assisted reproduction. Embryo storage preserves reproductive material between fertility treatment cycles.

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