5. Kinetic vitrification: basic thermodynamical principles, methods and devices

Abstract

As we have stated recently (I.I. Katkov et al., 2012. In “Current Frontiers in Cryobiology” , pp. 3–40, Eds. I.I. Katkov, InTech Open Access Books: http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/31227/InTech-Kinetic_vitrification_of_spermatozoa_of_vertebrates_what_can_we_learn_from_nature_.pdf ) kinetic vitrification (K-VF) is gaining its momentum as a very promising method of cryopreservation (CP), particularly for CP of germplasm and other single cells and cellular suspensions. In this presentation, we will analyze the difference between the three ways of CP that all end up in VF of intracellular milieu, namely between K-VF (informally called the “Luyet’s” method), equilibrium vitrification (E-VF, the “Fahy’s” approach) and slow equilibrium freezing (SF, the “Mazur’s” approach). We will show that while SF has been maintaining the mainstream method for the majority of the cell types, K-VF is rapidly expanding its realm, particularly in assisted reproductive technology, the equilibrium VF is essentially “stuck in the rut” due to both internal and external difficulties associated with this approach. We will analyze thermodynamical aspects and discuss the basic applications for all three approaches with “pros and cons” for each of them. We will then critically analyze the modern devices and methods for K-VF that claim “ultra-fast/rapid” cooling rates, which in fact, in the majority of cases (except for very small sample volumes) are substantially lower than they claim due to a set of factors that will be also discussed in the presentation. And, finally, we will introduce our (CELLTRONIX) solution to ultra-fast cooling and present a short video clip of the novel hyper-fast scalable cooling device developed by CELLTRONIX.