Preservation of sensitive biological samples by vitrification

摘要

This invention discloses methods for the long-term preservation of industrial scale biological solutions and suspensions containing biologically active molecules, cells and small multicellular specimens at ambient temperatures by dehydration in amorphous very viscous liquid or glass state. The scale up method comprises the primary drying step of boiling under vacuum to form a mechanically-stable foam and a secondary drying step to increase the stability. Vitrification can subsequently be achieved by cooling the dried material to the storage temperature which is lower than the glass transition temperature.