Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried erythrocytic cells. The invention further provides methods for loading a solute into a cell comprising disposing a cell in a solution having a solute concentration of sufficient magnitude to produce hyperosmotic pressure on the cell for transferring a solute from the solution into cell.

Abstract: This invention provides a methods of detecting a bleeding disorder in mammals where the bleeding disorder is characterized by normal fibrinogen binding to ADP-activated platelets, but decreased fibrinogen binding to thrombin-activates platelets.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for increasing the survival of nucleated mammalian cells following drying and rehydration. The methods include introducing a disaccharide such as trehalose into said cells, optionally including heat shock proteins, apoptosis inhibitors, and arbutin, drying said cells, and rehydrating them. The invention further provides nucleated mammalian cells that have increased capacity to survive, divide and, in some cases, differentiate, following drying and rehydration. The cells comprise a disaccharide and one or more of the following: a heat shock protein, an apoptosis inhibitor, and arbutin.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for loading a preservative into blood platelets comprising providing a preservative solution having a preservative, water and protein, and loading blood platelets with the preservative solution to produce preservative-loaded blood platelets having the preservative solution generally including higher glass transition temperatures than glass transition temperatures for a preservative solution having the preservative, water and no protein. A process for processing blood platelets comprising suspending blood platelets in a preservative solution at a concentration greater than about 108 platelets per ml. of preservative solution to produce preservative-loaded blood platelets, freeze-drying the preservative-loaded blood platelets, and recovering at least 75% of the freeze died platelets.

Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried erythrocytic cells. Alcohol (e.g., sterol or cholesterol) is at least partially removed from erythrocytic cells including erythrocytic membranes. After removal of at least part of the alcohol, the erythrocytic cells have a low phase transition temperature range, an intermediate phase transition temperature range, and a high phase transition temperature range. The erythrocytic cells may be loaded with an oligosaccharide (e.g., trehalose) which preserves biological properties during freeze-drying and rehydration. A process for increasing cooperativity of a phase transition of an erythrocytic cell. A process for preserving and/or increasing the survival of dehydrated erythrocytic cells, including storing dehydrated erythrocytic cells having a residual water content equal to or less than about 0.30 gram of water per gram of dry weight erythrocytic cells.

Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried platelets. The platelets are loaded with trehalose which preserves biological properties during freeze-drying and rehydration. The trehalose loading is conducted at a temperature of from greater than about 25° C. to less than about 40° C., most preferably at 37° C., with the loading solution having trehalose in an amount from about 10 mM to about 50 mM. These freeze-dried platelets are substantially shelf-stable and are rehydratable so as to have a normal response to an agonist, for example, thrombin, with virtually all of the platelets participating in clot formation within about three minutes at 37° C.

Abstract: A device for holding substances during drying comprising a flask having a structure defining an opening. A pair of contiguous or juxtaposed filters is disposed in the opening. A freeze-drying assembly comprising a freeze-drying apparatus, and the device disposed in the apparatus for holding substances during freeze-drying processing. A method for processing a substance under sterile conditions comprising disposing a substance in a flask, positioning the flask in a drying apparatus, and passing a drying medium through a pair of juxtaposed filters for drying the substance.

Abstract: A method for loading a biological sample comprising loading a biological sample with a solute by fluid phase endocytosis to produce an internally loaded biological sample. Within the biological sample a first matter (e.g., a vesicle) having the solute fuses with a second matter (e.g., a lysosome) to produce a fused matter containing the solute. Loading of the biological sample includes transferring the solute from the fused matter into cytoplasm within the biological sample.

Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried erythrocytic cells. A method for loading a solute into a cell comprising disposing a cell in a solution having a solute concentration of sufficient magnitude to produce hyperosmotic pressure on the cell for transferring a solute from the solution into the cell. A method for retaining a solute in a cell.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a biological material (e.g., blood platelets, cells, etc.) comprising treating a biological material with an amphiphilic agent (e.g., an amphiphilic compound, such as a surfactant, or pluronic or arbutin) to stabilize the biological material. At least one carbohydrate (e.g., trehalose or a trehalose-sucrose mixture) may be combined with the amphiphilic agent for treating the biological material. The treated biological material may be dehydrated. A biological material produced in accordance with the method for treating the biological material.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a viability level of a metabolite in a biological sample comprising disposing a biological sample into a solute solution comprising a solute and a chemical selected from the group consisting of a monosaccharide, a monosaccharide polyol, a cell metabolite-controlling agent, a salt, and mixtures thereof; and incubating the biological sample in the solute solution while maintaining a viability level of a metabolite in the biological sample.

Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried cells. A method for loading a solute into a cell comprising disposing a cell in a solution having at temperature of at least 25° C. and a solute concentration of sufficient magnitude to produce hyperosmotic pressure on the cell for transferring a solute from the solution into the cell. A method for reconstituting dried cells by drying loaded cells in a drying solution and reconstituting dried cells in a rehydration solution. A method for stabilizing cells by producing cells having an effective amount of a solute and a mean corpuscular hemoglobin greater than about 10.

Abstract: A method for reducing hemolysis in cells including washing cells in a solute solution having the capabilities of reducing cell hemolysis by at least about 0.50% for each 100 mOsm increase in osmolarity of the solute solution. A cell produced by the method for reducing hemolysis. The method permits removal of osmotically fragile cells from the population.

Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried platelets. The platelets are loaded with trehalose which preserves biological properties during freeze-drying and rehydration. The trehalose loading is conducted at a temperature of from greater than about 25° C. to less than about 40° C., most preferably at 37° C., with the loading solution having trehalose in an amount from about 10 mM to about 50 mM. These freeze-dried platelets are substantially shelf-stable and are rehydratable so as to have a normal response to an agonist, for example, thrombin, with virtually all of the platelets participating in clot formation within about three minutes at 37° C.

Abstract: A method for loading a preservative into a biological sample comprising providing a preservative solution having a preservative, water and protein, and loading a biological sample with the preservative solution to produce a preservative-loaded biological sample having the preservative solution generally including higher glass transition temperatures than glass transition temperatures for a preservative solution having the preservative, water and no protein. A process for processing biological samples comprising suspending biological samples in a preservative solution at a concentration greater than about 108 platelets per ml. of preservative solution to produce preservative-loaded biological samples, freeze-drying the preservative-loaded biological samples, and recovering at least 75% of the freeze-dried biological samples.

Abstract: A method for loading a biological sample comprising loading a biological sample with a solute and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) by fluid phase endocytosis to produce an internally loaded biological sample. A dehydrated composition is provided that includes dried biological samples containing dimethylsulfoxide and a solute. A method for increasing the survival of biological samples comprising providing biological samples, loading the biological samples with a carbohydrate and dimethylsulfoxide to produce loaded biological samples, and drying (e.g., air drying or vacuum drying) the loaded biological samples while maintaining a residual water content in the biological samples of at least about 0.01 gram water per gram of dry weight of biological samples to increase survival of the biological samples upon rehydrating.

Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried platelets. The platelets are loaded with trehalose which preserves biological properties during freeze-drying and rehydration. The trehalose loading is conducted at a temperature of from greater than about 25° C. to less than about 40° C., most preferably at 37° C., with the loading solution having trehalose in an amount from about 10 mM to about 50 mM. These freeze-dried platelets are substantially shelf-stable and are rehydratable so as to have a normal response to an agonist, for example, thrombin, with virtually all of the platelets participating in clot formation within about three minutes at 37° C.

Abstract: A process for preparing a dehydrated biological sample comprising providing a biological sample selected from a mammalian species, loading with a solute the biological sample having an alcohol by fluid phase endocytosis to produce an internally loaded biological sample, and drying the loaded biological sample to produce a dehydrated biological sample.

Abstract: A dehydrated composition is provided that includes freeze-dried erythrocytic cells. Alcohol (e.g., sterol or cholesterol) is at least partially removed from erythrocytic cells including erythrocytic membranes. After removal of at least part of the alcohol, the erythrocytic cells have a low phase transition temperature range, an intermediate phase transition temperature range, and a high phase transition temperature range. The erythrocytic cells may be loaded with an oligosaccharide (e.g., trehalose) which preserves biological properties during freeze-drying and rehydration. A process for increasing cooperativity of a phase transition of an erythrocytic cell. A process for preserving and/or increasing the survival of dehydrated erythrocytic cells, including storing dehydrated erythrocytic cells having a residual water content equal to or less than about 0.30 gram of water per gram of dry weight erythrocytic cells.

Abstract: A method for loading a biological sample comprising loading a biological sample with a solute by fluid phase endocytosis to produce an internally loaded biological sample. Within the biological sample a first matter (e.g., a vesicle) having the solute fuses with a second matter (e.g., a lysosome) to produce a fused matter containing the solute. Loading of the biological sample includes transferring the solute from the fused matter into cytoplasm within the biological sample.