Image credit: ATP-Bio
The goal of this project is to develop cryopreservation and laser-warming technology to demonstrate a survival rate greater than 3% for golden shiner (fish) embryos. This project is part of the University of Minnesota Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technologies for the Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio). The ATP-Bio project teams seeks to develop technology that can stop biological time through temperature control in order to biopreserve or cryopreserve biological systems.
Why do this?
Cryopreservation of fish embryos could improve the productivity of the Minnesota aquaculture industry by enabling farmers to produce a continuous supply of gametes year-round and reduce the cost of broodstock maintenance. For many species such as walleye, cryopreservation could also be an important strategy to ensure against the loss of these species due unexpected disease, reproductive failures, or invasive species. Cryopreservation of fish embryos could also enable preservation of genetic lines for research.
Project description
The two objectives of this project are:
- to develop laser-warming enabled cryopreservation technology for Golden Shiner (fish) embryos and
- to demonstrate a survival rate of more than 3% at Day 5 after laser warming.
For the first objective, the research project team will develop methods for microinjection of a cryoprotective agent and gold nanoparticles into the fish embryos, followed by the use of pre-cooling cryoprotectant baths. For the second objective, the research team will develop methods to rapidly cool and laser warm embryos.
Funding
Support for this project came from Minnesota Sea Grant's 2020-2022 biennial request for proposal solicitation.
Presentations
- Photothermal Applications of Nanoparticles presentation. December 8, 2020. This is a joint presentation of University of Minnesota Professor and project lead John Bischof and nanoComposix.
Lead scientist(s)
John Bischof
Distinguished McKnight University Professor
Director, Institute for Engineering in Medicine
Director, NSF Center for Advanced Technologies Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio)
The Carl and Janet Kuhrmeyer Chair, Mechanical Engineering
Medtronic-Bakken Endowed Chair for Engineering in Medicine
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
612-625-5513
bischof@umn.edu
Scholarly Articles
Kangas, J., Zhan, L., Liu, Y., Natesan, H., Khosla, K., and Bischof, J. (February 7, 2022). "Ultra-Rapid Laser Calorimetry for the Assessment of Crystallization in Low-Concentration Cryoprotectants." ASME. J. Heat Transfer. March 2022; 144(3): 031207. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4052568
Partners
- Tye Fish Solutions, Industry and Business