ShareNew advance in cryopreservation could make blood preservation more practical
It’s already possible to cryopreserve human red blood cells in the presence of 40 percent glycerol, but is rarely done because of the time-consuming process to thaw and remove the glycerol from the blood.
According to engineers at Oregon State University, microchannel plates and membranes could be used to precisely control removal of glycerol from the blood in a matter of seconds.
This ultra-rapid glycerol extraction process could greatly improve the logistics of blood banking, which, until now, has relied heavily on constantly balancing the use and supply of blood products lasting only six weeks or less with refrigeration but could last years thanks to this new technology.
Frozen blood is difficult to use as its freezing process requires 40% glycerol which can take over an hour to thaw and remove.
However this process could be reduced to as little as three minutes using a membrane-based microfluidic device.
This ultra-rapid glycerol extraction process could greatly improve the logistics of blood banking, which, until now, has relied heavily on constantly balancing the use and supply of blood products lasting only six weeks or less with refrigeration but could last years thanks to this new technology.
Frozen blood is difficult to use as its freezing process requires 40% glycerol which can take over an hour to thaw and remove.
However this process could be reduced to as little as three minutes using a membrane-based microfluidic device.