Abstract: Described herein are enhanced compositions and methods for storing biomaterials. In certain aspects, these biomaterials include natural and engineered eukaryotic tissues. The methods described herein include storing these biomaterials in such a manner that reduces or prevents the loss of biomaterial properties (e.g., extracellular matrix integrity, cell viability, or a combination thereof) occurring either during storage or after removal of the biomaterial from storage. In certain aspects, these biomaterials will be stored in animal product-free solutions containing an agent that prevents or reduces the loss of extracellular matrix integrity.

Abstract: Described herein are cassettes and methods for using these cassettes for cryopreserving biomaterials (e.g., a bioengineered construct or natural tissue sample) by vitrification while reducing or preventing the loss of viability associated with conventional preservation methods.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for preserving biomaterials by vitrification while reducing or preventing the loss of viability associated with conventional preservation methods. Also described herein are cassettes and methods for using these cassettes for cryopreserving biomaterials (e.g., a bioengineered construct or natural tissue sample).

Abstract: Cellular material containing living cells is preserved by combining the cellular material with a cryoprotectant formulation/medium/solution containing an effective amount of trehalose (in the absence of DMSO and/or any other added cryoprotectants) during a cryopreservation protocol. That is, the cryopreservation protocol is free of cryoprotectant other than trehalose, and the cryopreservation protocol includes: exposing the cellular material to a cryoprotectant formulation containing an effective amount of the trehalose to act as a cryoprotectant, cooling the cellular material at a cooling rate in the range of from ?3° C./minute to ?50° C./minute to a predetermined temperature below ?20° C., and obtaining a cryopreserved cellular material that has been warmed.

Abstract: Methods for ex vivo perfusion of organs (and/or tissues) with a perfusate designed to condition the organ with the desired effect being that upon transplant, said organ, having been administered said perfusate, is less likely to experience delayed graft function, deleterious effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury, including inflammatory reactions, and/or other detrimental responses that can injure the organ or recipient including precipitating or enhancing an immunological reaction from the recipient with the potential of compromising the graft's and/or recipients short teen and/or long term health and proper functionality while monitoring, sustaining and/or restoring the viability of the organ and preserving the organ for storage and/or transport.

Abstract: Described herein are enhanced compositions and methods for storing biomaterials. In certain aspects, these biomaterials include natural and engineered eukaryotic tissues. The methods described herein include storing these biomaterials in such a manner that reduces or prevents the loss of biomaterial properties (e.g., extracellular matrix integrity, cell viability, or a combination thereof) occurring either during storage or after removal of the biomaterial from storage. In certain aspects, these biomaterials will be stored in animal product-free solutions containing an agent that prevents or reduces the loss of extracellular matrix integrity.

Abstract: Living cellular material may be preserved by incubating the cellular material in a culture medium containing at least one glycolipid, and then subjecting the cellular material to a preservation protocol.

Abstract: A method for cryopreservation of adherent cells attached to a substrate and a method for identifying one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) components and/or matricellular proteins that improves viability and retention of the cryopreserved cells on the substrate. The method for cryopreservation includes treating a substrate with at least one ECM component and/or adding at least one matricellular protein to the substrate or cell culture media, plating the cells on the treated substrate, and cryopreserving the cells. One or more ECM components and/or matricellular proteins that improves cell viability and retention can be identified by evaluating the cells that have been thawed from the cryopreservation temperature to determine cell viability and retention.

Abstract: A method for cryopreservation of adherent cells attached to a substrate and a method for identifying one or more extracellular matrix (ECM) components and/or matricellular proteins that improves viability and retention of the cryopreserved cells on the substrate. The method for cryopreservation includes treating a substrate with at least one ECM component and/or adding at least one matricellular protein to the substrate or cell culture media, plating the cells on the treated substrate, and cryopreserving the cells. One or more ECM components and/or matricellular proteins that improves cell viability and retention can be identified by evaluating the cells that have been thawed from the cryopreservation temperature to determine cell viability and retention.

Abstract: Methods of monitoring, maintaining, and/or restoring viability of at least one organ in a perfusion apparatus are disclosed. The methods include monitoring data comprising information relating to events occurring while at least one organ is present in a perfusion apparatus to form a data record. And they further include connecting the perfusion apparatus to a network through wiring or wirelessly, and continuously uploading the data record to a database at a location away from the perfusion apparatus in such a manner that a database computer that obtains the data record from the database can at least one of manage, track, monitor, and diagnose the at least one organ in the perfusion apparatus in real-time based upon the information in the data record.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. In perfusion, organ perfusion pressure is preferably controlled in response to a sensor disposed in an end of tubing placed in the organ, by a pneumatically pressurized medical fluid reservoir, providing perfusion pressure fine tuning, overpressurization prevention and emergency flow cut-off. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. The medical fluid may be fed into the organ from an intermediary tank having a low pressure head to avoid organ overpressurization. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate.

Abstract: Described herein are enhanced compositions and methods for storing biomaterials. In certain aspects, these biomaterials include natural and engineered eukaryotic tissues. The methods described herein include storing these biomaterials in such a manner that reduces or prevents the loss of biomaterial properties (e.g., extracellular matrix integrity, cell viability, or a combination thereof) occurring either during storage or after removal of the biomaterial from storage. In certain aspects, these biomaterials will be stored in animal product-free solutions containing an agent that prevents or reduces the loss of extracellular matrix integrity.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures, preferably after hypothermic organ flushing for organ transport and/or storage. The method can be practiced with prior or subsequent static or perfusion hypothermic exposure of the organ. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. In perfusion, organ perfusion pressure is preferably controlled in response to a sensor disposed in an end of tubing placed in the organ, by a pneumatically pressurized medical fluid reservoir, providing perfusion pressure fine tuning, overpressurization prevention and emergency flow cut-off. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. The medical fluid may be fed into the organ from an intermediary tank having a low pressure head to avoid organ overpressurization. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate.

Abstract: Method for preserving tissue including immersing the tissue in a solution having a cryoprotectant concentration of at least 75% by weight, a cooling step where the tissue is cooled to a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the solution having a cryoprotectant concentration of at least 75% by weight and ?20° C., a storage step where the tissue is stored at a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the solution and ?20° C., a rewarming step, where the tissue is warmed, and a washing step.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures, preferably after hypothermic organ flushing for organ transport and/or storage. The method can be practiced with prior or subsequent static or perfusion hypothermic exposure of the organ. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures, preferably after hypothermic organ flushing for organ transport and/or storage. The method can be practiced with prior or subsequent static or perfusion hypothermic exposure of the organ. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.

Abstract: Methods for ex vivo perfusion of organs (and/or tissues) with a perfusate designed to condition the organ with the desired effect being that upon transplant, said organ, having been administered said perfusate, is less likely to experience delayed graft function, deleterious effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury, including inflammatory reactions, and/or other detrimental responses that can injure the organ or recipient including precipitating or enhancing an immunological reaction from the recipient with the potential of compromising the graft's and/or recipients short teen and/or long term health and proper functionality while monitoring, sustaining and/or restoring the viability of the organ and preserving the organ for storage and/or transport.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. The method includes perfusing the organ at hypothermic and/or normothermic temperatures, preferably after hypothermic organ flushing for organ transport and/or storage. The method can be practiced with prior or subsequent static or perfusion hypothermic exposure of the organ. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures.