Abstract: The present invention provides solutions and methods for preserving living biological materials that enable organs, tissues and cells to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. The inventive solutions are substantially isotonic with the biological material to be preserved and are substantially free of dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate, bisulfate and iodide. In one embodiment, preferred for the preservation of platelets, the solutions comprise betaine, sodium chloride and sodium citrate. For the preservation of many living biological materials, the inventive solutions preferably contain a calcium salt selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate and calcium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention provides solutions and methods for preserving living biological materials that enable organs, tissues and cells to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. The inventive solutions are substantially isotonic with the biological material to be preserved and are substantially free of dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate, bisulfate and iodide. In one embodiment, preferred for the preservation of platelets, the solutions comprise betaine, sodium chloride and sodium citrate. For the preservation of many living biological materials, the inventive solutions preferably contain a calcium salt selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate and calcium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention provides solutions and methods for preserving biological material that enable organs, tissues and cells to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. The inventive solutions are substantially isotonic with the biological material to be preserved and are substantially free of univalent oxyanions and of iodide. In one embodiment, the solutions comprise a first neutral solute having a molecular weight of at least about 335 and a solubility in water of at least about 0.3 M, a second neutral solute having a molecular weight of less than about 200 and having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, and sodium citrate. The inventive solutions preferably contain a calcium salt selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate and calcium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preserving living biological materials by lyophilization that enable cells and tissues to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. In one embodiment, the inventive methods comprise contacting a biological material with a preservative solution comprising trimethyl amine oxide, sodium citrate and sodium chloride, reducing the temperature of the biological material to less than 0.degree. C., and drying the biological material to provide a freeze-dried material. The preservative solutions employed in the inventive methods are preferably isotonic with the material to be preserved and substantially free of iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate and bisulfate.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for preserving living biological materials by lyophilization that enable cells and tissues to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. In one embodiment, the inventive methods comprise contacting a biological material with a preservative solution comprising either betaine or trimethyl amine oxide, together with sodium citrate and sodium chloride, reducing the temperature of the biological material to less than 0.degree. C., and drying the biological material to provide a freeze-dried material. The preservative solutions employed in the inventive methods are preferably isotonic with the material to be preserved and substantially free of iodide, dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate and bisulfate.

Abstract: The present invention provides solutions and methods for preserving living biological materials that enable organs, tissues and cells to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. The inventive solutions are substantially isotonic with the biological material to be preserved and are substantially free of dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate, bisulfate and iodide. In one embodiment preferred for the preservation of platelets, the solutions comprise betaine, sodium chloride and sodium citrate. For the preservation of many living biological materials, the inventive solutions preferably contain a calcium salt selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate and calcium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention provides solutions and methods for preserving living biological materials that enable organs, tissues and cells to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. The inventive solutions are substantially isotonic with the biological material to be preserved and are substantially free of dihydrogen phosphate, bicarbonate, nitrate bisulfate and iodide. In one embodiment, the solutions comprise a first neutral solute having a molecular weight of at least about 335 and a solubility in water of at least about 0.3 M, a second neutral solute having a molecular weight of less than about 200 and having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties, with the first neutral solute preferably being selected from the group consisting of raffinose and trehalose and the second neutral solute preferably being selected from the group consisting of trimethyl amine oxide and betaine.

Abstract: The present invention provides solutions and methods for preserving biological material that enable organs, tissues and cells to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. The inventive solutions are substantially isotonic with the biological material to be preserved and are substantially free of univalent oxyanions and of iodide. The solutions comprise a first neutral solute having a molecular weight of at least about 335 and a solubility in water of at least about 0.3M, and a second neutral solute having a molecular weight of less than about 200 and having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties. The inventive solutions preferably contain CaSO.sub.4, together with combinations of anions and cations from the protein-stabilizing ends of the Hofmeister series, such as K.sub.2 SO.sub.4. Solutions with raffinose or trehalose in combination with trimethyl amine oxide or betaine are particularly preferred.

Abstract: The present invention provides solutions and methods for preserving biological material that enable organs, tissues and cells to be stored for extended periods of time with minimal loss of biological activity. The inventive solutions are substantially isotonic with the biological material to be preserved and are substantially free of univalent oxyanions and of iodide. The solutions comprise a first neutral solute having a molecular weight of at least about 335 and a solubility in water of at least about 0.3M, and a second neutral solute having a molecular weight of less than about 200 and having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties. The inventive solutions preferably contain CaSO.sub.4, together with combinations of anions and cations from the protein-stabilizing ends of the Hofmeister series, such as K.sub.2 SO.sub.4.