Organs used in organ transplants can be preserved by long-term cryopreservation methods such as vitrification. In this method, cryoprotective chemicals are pumped into the organ and cooled quickly enough that ice crystals do not form. But the problem arises when trying to return the organ to body temperature.
To overcome this problem, scientists at the University of Minnesota have developed a new method of nanoheating that heats the organ quickly and evenly, not only from its surface but also from within.
In their experiment, the team cryogenically stored mouse kidneys for up to 100 days. He then successfully rewarmed and decontaminated the cryoprotective chemicals and transplanted them into five living mice. Within 30 days, all mice had kidney function indistinguishable from a healthy organ.
This new method uses iron oxide nanoparticles that travel through the organ’s blood vessels. The nanoparticles heat the organ evenly when activated by electromagnetic waves.
The real question is whether this technology can be applied to humans. It’s estimated that 20 percent of kidneys donated for transplant each year are wasted because they expire before a recipient can access them. With cryopreservation technology, this could potentially be no longer an issue.
The team estimates that it could take several years for the method to apply to humans, but say they’re confident they can do it with a little more research.
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