Abstract
Nowadays, cryopreservation of gametes and embryos is a fundamental, integral, and indispensable part of infertility treatment or fertility preservation. Cryopreservation is not only needed for the policy of single embryo transfer and cryopreservation of surplus embryos, but for deferring embryo transfer in the case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, uterine pathologies, and suboptimal endometrium built-up or when preimplantation genetic testing is needed. Several current strategies in assisted reproduction technology (ART) would be inconceivable without highly efficient cryopreservation protocols. Nevertheless, cryopreservation hampered for a long time, especially in terms of low survival rates after freezing and thawing. Only the technical progress during the last decades, namely, in regard to the implementation and advancement of vitrification, leveraged its application, and thus, even allows the cryopreservation of human oocytes—a process that is far from being easy. This review aims to provide a deeper insight into the physical processes of cryopreservation and to explore the character of the vitrified state in the extra and intracellular milieu in order to demonstrate that the common denominator to all cryopreservation procedures is the establishment of an intracellular amorphous condition that hinders the likelihood of crystallization.
Highlights
Cryobiology is the science that studies the cellular behavior of biological material at low temperatures
These lines may still be useful in other jobs, but to maintain them involves a significant cost that can slow the progression of other research
Cryopreservation of gametes, was originally implemented to maintain the chances to conceive in the case of oncological therapies, and extended to indications, such as Turner syndrome, autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, or preservation for societal reasons (Table 1)
Summary
Cryobiology is the science that studies the cellular behavior of biological material (e.g., gametes, embryos, tissues, organs) at low temperatures. The challenge in the development of cryopreservation techniques was to cool down the biological material from room temperature to −196 ◦C, while ensuring the cellular function and integrity of cell organelles and membranes after warming to develop subsequent in vitro or in vivo
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