Thermal expansion of blood vessels in low cryogenic temperatures Part I: A new experimental device

As part of the ongoing effort to Study the mechanical behavior of biological material during cryopreservation processes, the current study focuses oil thermal expansion of blood vessels at low cryogenic temperatures. The current paper (Part 1) describes a new experimental device for thermal expansion measurements of blood vessels in typical conditions of vitrification, which are associated with rapid cooling rates. For validation purposes, the thermal strain of frozen arteries ill the absence of cryoprotectants was measured, and found to be about 10% larger than that of polycrystalline water; this observation agrees with literature data. The companion paper (Part II) reports oil experimental results of cryoprotectants permeated with VS55, DP6, and 7.05 M DMSO at high cooling rates applicable to vitrification. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.