| abstract |
An anaerobic method for preserving mammalian blood, mammalian tissue or living-cell containing components of either in a state of suspended animation, and the products of that method, are described. The method involves adding the substance to be preserved to a receptacle containing anticoagulant and low molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch, hydroxypropyl starch or polystarch containing from about 450 to about 1000 glucose units per molecule, mixing well, while maintaining the temperature in the range of from about 35° to about 40° F., and storing the resulting mixture at the same temperature. In a preferred embodiment which preserves blood, tissue or a component indefinitely, the structure is lightly crosslinked (i.e., about 1 cross-link per 50 g glucose units) with the aid of a water-soluble cross-linking agent of the acrylamide type, to form a gel structure. n When it is desired to use the preserved material, the swelled starch derivative may be liquefied, or the gel may be broken, by an isotonic wash or by microwaving. The bulk of the starch derivative and any acrylamide type crosslinker present are removed by filtration, whereupon the preserved material may be used in the same way as a freshly collected substance containing living cellular material might be used. |