Vitrification requires a high concentration of vitrificants/cryoprotectants (CPA) and an elevated cooling speed for no ice crystal formation, which is one of the major causes of cryoinjury. In addition, increasing the speed of thermal conduction and decreasing the concentration of toxic CPA is an ideal strategy for the better outcome after vitrification of oocytes and embryos. Our group has introduced slush nitrogen (SN2) in order to improve the viability and quality of oocytes and embryos after vitrification. Since it may offer high-speed cooling rates, it may be possible to increase the survival rate as well as other characteristics, and resulted in improved embryonic development and pregnancy rate after vitrification of human oocytes or blastocysts. We have also developed the liquid nitrogen (LN2) vapour storage for more efficient and optimal application of vitrification.
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