Krioprezervaatio

Krioprezervaatio, also known as cryopreservation, is a process by which biological materials are preserved by cooling them to very low temperatures, typically −80 °C (−112 °F) or −196 °C (−321 °F). At these temperatures, most biological activity, including the natural processes of decay and decomposition, is effectively stopped. The primary goal of krioprezervaatio is to maintain the viability of cells, tissues, or whole organisms for future use.

The technique commonly involves the use of cryoprotective agents (CPAs). These are substances that prevent the formation of damaging ice crystals within the cells during the freezing process. Without CPAs, the formation of ice crystals would puncture cell membranes and disrupt cellular structures, leading to irreversible damage. After being cooled, the samples are typically stored in liquid nitrogen.

Krioprezervaatio has a wide range of applications. In medicine, it is used to preserve sperm, eggs, and embryos for fertility treatments and research. Blood stem cells, bone marrow, and other tissues are also cryopreserved for transplantation. In scientific research, cells and microorganisms are stored for long-term study and experimentation. Beyond biological applications, there is also a speculative field known as cryonics, which aims to preserve entire human bodies with the hope of future revival, although the scientific feasibility of this remains unproven.