Vitrification
Vitrification - Related Videos
06:00
Cryopreservation of Mouse Embryos by Ethylene Glycol-Based Vitrification
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Cited by 17 •
2011
An ethylene glycol-based vitrification method for mouse embryos is described. It is advantageous to other methods in its simplicity and low embryonic toxicity, and therefore can be broadly applicable to many strains of mice, including inbred and gene-modified mice.
03:15
Rabbit Embryo Vitrification Using Cryogenic Straw: An Ultra-Rapid Cooling Technique to Preserve Rabbit Embryos for Long-term Storage
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2025
In this video, we describe the procedure for vitrification of harvested rabbit embryos at desired development stage using ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide as cryoprotectants and cryogenic straw as the carrier system. The vitrified embryos have high survival rate and can be stored for an extended period until use.
04:24
Vitrification-based Cryopreservation: An Ultra-rapid Cooling Technique to Preserve Biological Specimens at Very Low Temperatures for Long-term Storage
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2023
In this video, we demonstrate an ultra-rapid cryo vitrification method for preserving biological samples. The method entails the use of a combination of cryoprotectants to protect the biological tissue from freezing damage by preventing intracellular ice crystal formation.
10:59
Human Blastocyst Biopsy and Vitrification
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Cited by 36 •
2019
Blastocyst biopsy and vitrification are required to efficiently conduct preimplantation genetic testing. An approach entailing the sequential opening of the zona pellucida and retrieval of 7-8 trophectoderm cells in day 5-7 post-insemination limits both the number of manipulations required and the exposure of the embryo to sub-optimal environmental conditions.
11:07
Bulk Droplet Vitrification for Primary Hepatocyte Preservation
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Cited by 2 •
2019
This manuscript describes an ice-free cryopreservation method for large quantities of rat hepatocytes whereby primary cells are pre-incubated with cryoprotective agents at a low concentration and vitrified in large droplets.
FAQs
Rapid cooling is central because it limits the time available for water molecules to organize into ice crystals. At the same time, concentrated cryoprotective agents increase the sample’s viscosity, slowing molecular movement and favoring a glass-like solidification pathway. This matters because crystal formation can damage biological structures, so successful vitrification requires conditions that keep nucleation suppressed throughout cooling.
Concentration must be high enough to increase viscosity and reduce ice formation, yet not so high that exposure becomes toxic to cells or embryos. This tradeoff is a central design constraint rather than a minor adjustment. The chosen conditions therefore influence whether a specimen reaches the intended glass-like state and remains viable for subsequent recovery.
Sample size affects how effectively the treatment can control the physical state throughout a specimen. Cooling and warming rates also influence whether the material avoids ice formation and returns successfully from storage. These variables must be considered together with cryoprotectant exposure, because conditions that work for one specimen size may not produce the same outcome in another.
A basic workflow begins by exposing cells, embryos, tissues, or other specimens to concentrated cryoprotective agents. The treated material is then cooled extremely rapidly, maintained at very low temperatures, and later warmed for recovery. Each stage contributes to preservation: exposure supports glass formation, rapid cooling limits ice nucleation, and warming conditions help determine whether the stored material can be recovered.
The method can be applied to reproductive cells and embryos, stem cells, tissues, and other sensitive biological specimens. This range makes it useful when valuable material must remain available for later recovery or study. In biology, the approach supports assisted reproduction, biobanking, developmental research, and preservation of specimens whose properties could otherwise be lost during storage.
In assisted reproduction, vitrification helps retain reproductive cells and embryos for later use, while in biobanking it supports preservation of valuable biological material. Its broader research value comes from making sensitive specimens available after storage for developmental studies or other investigations. The quality of the outcome still depends on toxicity, cooling and warming rates, and sample size.