An Optical Microscope Study of the Morphology of Xenon Hydrate Crystals: Exploring New Approaches to Cryopreservation

Abstract

One of the possible approaches to a new method of cryopreservation seems to be the controlled formation of a multitude of small crystals in an object, which, due to their size, will not damage cellular structures. Managing the crystal formation, given the stochastic nature of the process, is an extremely difficult task. Theoretically, it is simplified if there is a sufficient number of changeable physical parameters, affecting the process. From this point of view, the use of ice-like gas hydrates for the purposes of cryopreservation seems to be a promising option. We investigated the process of growth of xenon gas hydrates via standard microscopy under different conditions using the specialized optical cell for observation at elevated pressures. The formation of crystals was observed in the system “supercooled liquid–xenon–water vapor” at negative, near-zero and positive values of temperature, and pressure of xenon up to 8 atmospheres. The morphology of xenon hydrate crystals observed in the experiments was analyzed and classified into five categories. The influence of physical conditions on the predominant crystal morphology was also studied. We found no evidence that the possible damaging effect of hydrate crystals should be less severe than of ice crystals.