Cryopreservation compositions and methods involving nanowarming
A cryopreservation composition generally includes a cryoprotective agent and a laser absorber that includes a metal. Rewarming a cryopreserved specimen that includes the cryopreservation composition includes subjecting the cryopreserved specimen to a laser pulse effective to heat the laser absorber sufficiently to thaw the cryopreserved biospecimen.
1 . A method of warming a cryopreserved biospecimen, the method comprising:
obtaining a cryopreserved specimen comprising a cryoprotective composition, the cryoprotective composition comprising:
a cryoprotective agent; and
a laser absorber comprising a plasmonic material, wherein the plasmonic material absorbs a narrow band of laser energy; and
subjecting the cryopreserved specimen to a laser pulse effective to heat the laser absorber sufficiently to rewarm the cryopreserved biospecimen.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser absorber comprises a metal.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the metal is selected from gold, silver, titanium, copper or combinations thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser absorber comprises a gold nanorod.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cryopreserved specimen is irradiated with visible or near infrared radiation (NIR) for rewarming the cryopreserved specimen.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength of the laser pulse to heat the laser absorbers is between about 400 nm and about 2500 nm.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser absorbers have an absorption efficiency (Qabs) of greater than 2.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser absorbers have an absorption efficiency (Qabs) of greater than 10.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser absorbers are injected into the cryopreserved specimen prior to cryopreservation.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser absorber is not toxic when injected into the cryopreserved specimen.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cryopreserved specimen comprises cells, oocytes, embryos, tissue, tissue portions, neural cells, ganglia, stem cell derived spheroids, cornea, skin, thin tissues and combinations thereof.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cryopreserved specimen is perfused with the cryoprotective composition.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cryopreserved specimen is suspended in the cryoprotective composition.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the laser absorbers are distributed in all compartments of the cell.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the cell is an oocyte and the laser absorber is distributed in the chorion and the yolk.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cryoprotective agent comprises propylene glycol, trehalose, polyethylene glycol, methanol or combinations thereof.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the laser pulse produces a warming rate of at least 500,000° C./min.
18 . A method of cryopreserving a biospecimen, the method comprising:
cooling the biospecimen in a cryoprotective composition to generate a cryopreserved biospecimen, the cryoprotective composition comprising:
a cryoprotective agent; and
a laser absorber comprising a plasmonic material, wherein the plasmonic material absorbs a narrow band of laser energy; and
obtaining the cryopreserved specimen for rewarming; and
subjecting the cryopreserved specimen to a laser pulse effective to heat the laser absorber sufficiently to rewarm the cryopreserved biospecimen.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the biospecimen is injected with the laser absorber prior to cooling.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the biospecimen is perfused with or suspended in the cryoprotective composition.