Abstract
Cryomicroscopy allows the direct determination of physico-chemical changes occurring during the freezing of cells under thermally controlled conditions. In this study, an isothermal convection stage was designed for the purpose of subjecting the biological cells under investigation to spatially and temporally constant sub-zero temperatures. The freezing window of the stage was made of optical quality sapphire chosen for its high thermal conductivity. The temperature of the window was controlled by heating or cooling of the coolant stream until the window was at the desired temperature. This combination of window properties and temperature control methods resulted in a largely isothermal freezing surface. This type of freezing environment is well suited for the determination of certain cell cryobiophysical parameters such as the probability of intracellular ice nucleation or the determination of the water permeability of biological cells and embryos at subzero temperatures.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | ASME Bioeng Div Publ BED |
| Editors | Kenneth R. Diller |
| Publisher | ASME |
| Pages | 67-71 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Volume | 5 |
| State | Published - Dec 1 1987 |