Freezing prevents organic matter from decomposing but often damages cells due to ice formation. This is a problem for freezing organs and tissues needed for medicine.
Researchers at Fudan University in China have developed a liquid called MEDY that, when dissolved, preserves the integrity of the brain. The substance contains methylcellulose, ethylene glycol, DMSO and Y27632.
The team tested MEDY on small organoids. After being immersed in liquid and frozen, the tissues were thawed for 24 hours and the cells were examined.
One of the MEDY-impregnated “mini-brains” was successfully thawed even after 18 months and showed growth patterns similar to non-frozen samples.
The scientists then tested the liquid’s performance on brain samples from a person with epilepsy. It turns out that MEDY protects living cells from damage and preserves pathologies, allowing frozen samples to be used for further studies.
Source: Ferra
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