Stopping the biological clock Merging biology and cryogenics in applied cryobiology

摘要

The ability to stop all cellular activity for a prolonged period of time, yet still be able to deliver functional recovery on demand, is the practical output of the science of cryobiology. This cessation of biological time allows cells to be preserved for months or years in medicine and biotechnology. This review discusses the historical development of cryobiology, the basic scientific principles underpinning cryopreservation, and how the technologies are currently used.