Loading Trehalose by Electropermeabilization Increased the Survival of Freeze-dried Red Blood Cells

Abstract: Freeze-drying is an ideal alternative for preservation of red blood cells， due to its advantages of room temperature storage， lower weight for transportation. However， the recovery rate of freeze-dried red blood cells is low until now. It has been reported that intracellular trehalose is beneficial for freeze-drying of cells. In this investigation， trehalose was loaded into red blood cells by electropermeabilization first， intracellular trehalose concentration reached (63.68±2.14) mmol/L. Then trehalose-loaded red blood cells were freeze-dried and rehydrated， the recovery rate of red blood cells reached (65.9±2.3)%. Scanning electron microscopy showed the morphology of freeze-dried and rehydrated red blood cells were intact and similar to the fresh ones. These results indicated loading trehalose by electropermeabilization before freeze-drying could increase the recovery rate of freeze-dried red blood cells.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2009.04.0023