Physical vitrification and nanowarming at liter-scale CPA volumes: toward organ cryopreservation

Lakshya Gangwar, Zonghu Han, Cameron Scheithauer, Bat-Erdene Namsrai, Saurin Kantesaria, Rob Goldstein, Michael L. Etheridge, Erik B. Finger () and John C. Bischof ()
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Lakshya Gangwar: University of Minnesota
Zonghu Han: University of Minnesota
Cameron Scheithauer: University of Minnesota
Bat-Erdene Namsrai: University of Minnesota
Saurin Kantesaria: University of Minnesota
Rob Goldstein: LLC
Michael L. Etheridge: University of Minnesota
Erik B. Finger: University of Minnesota
John C. Bischof: University of Minnesota

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Organ banking via vitrification could transform transplantation, but has never been achieved at human organ scales. This study tested vitrification and rewarming in 0.5–3 L volumes using cryoprotective agents (CPAs): M22, VS55, and 40%EG + 0.6 M Sucrose. Ice formation and cracking was avoided through optimized convective cooling, and successful vitrification was confirmed via visual inspection, thermometry, and X-ray µCT. M22 and EG+sucrose vitrified at 0.5 L, but only M22 succeeded at 3 L; VS55 failed at all volumes. Porcine livers (~0.6–1 L total volume; ~0.23–0.75 L organ volume) were also vitrified using EG+sucrose, though not rewarmed. Future experiments are needed to optimize the protocol and achieve liver rewarming. Using nanowarming with iron-oxide nanoparticles and a newly developed 120 kW RF coil, uniform rewarming was achieved in up to 2 L volumes of M22 at ~88 °C/min. This work serves as a proof-of-concept that human organ scale vitrification and rewarming is physically possible, thereby enabling human organ banking in the future.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63483-2

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