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 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 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.