Cryopreservation compositions and methods involving nanowarming

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.