Method of freezing making use of a mineral nucleator
The present invention relates to a method for freezing a water-containing quantity of a biological entity or a formulation in a vessel using a mineral nucleator, to the use of the mineral as a nucleator and to a vessel with the mineral in or on the whole or part of a surface thereof.
1. A method for freezing a water-containing quantity of a biological entity or a formulation comprising:
contacting the water-containing quantity of the biological entity or formulation with a framework silicate in a vessel to form a solution; and
freezing the solution at a supercooling temperature between 0° C. and 8° C. in the vessel, wherein the framework silicate promotes the non-spontaneous formation of ice at a supercooling temperature between 0° C. and 8° C.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is selected from the group consisting of Feldspar, Silica, Nepheline, Petalite, Leucite, Sodalite, Cancrinite, Scapolite, Analcite and Zeolite.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is a framework aluminosilicate.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is a Feldspar or Feldsapthoid.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is a Feldspar.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is a Feldspar with a predominance of NaAlSi 3 O 8 and KAlSi 3 O 8 .
7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is a Feldspar with a predominance of KAlSi 3 O 8 .
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is a Feldspar with a predominance of CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 and NaAlSi 3 O 8 .
9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is a Feldspar with a predominance of NaAlSi 3 O 8 .
10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water-containing quantity is a water-containing quantity of a medical formulation.
11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water-containing quantity is a water-containing quantity of a formulated foodstuff.
12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the water-containing quantity is a water-containing quantity of a biological entity.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the biological entity is a cell or aggregate of cells.
14. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the contacting the water-containing quantity with a framework silicate in a vessel comprises:
adding the water-containing quantity to the vessel; and
adding the framework silicate in a discrete form to the vessel.
15. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the framework silicate is in or on the whole or part of a surface of the vessel or part thereof such that active nucleation sites of the framework silicate are exposed effectively to the water-containing quantity and the contacting the water-containing quantity with a framework silicate in a vessel comprises adding the water-containing quantity to the vessel.
16. A method for freezing a water-containing quantity of a biological entity or a formulation comprising:
forming a solution comprising the water-containing quantity of the biological entity or formulation, and a framework silicate;
freezing the solution at a supercooling temperature between 0° C. and 8° C.; and
during the freezing, promoting the non-spontaneous formation of ice at the supercooling temperature between 0° C. and 8° C.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the framework silicate comprises one or more of Feldspar, Silica, Nepheline, Petalite, Leucite, Sodalite, Cancrinite, Scapolite, Analcite and/or Zeolite.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the forming the solution comprises:
adding the water-containing quantity to a vessel; and
adding the framework silicate in a discrete form to the vessel.