Water content in an engineered dermal replacement during permeation of Me₂SO solutions using rapid MR imaging

The successful cryopreservation of cell and tissues typically requires the use of specialized solutions containing cryoprotective agents. At room temperature, the introduction of a cryopreservation solution can result in cell damage/death resulting from osmotic stresses and/or biochemical toxicity of the solution. For tissues, the permeation and equilibration of a cryoprotective solution throughout the tissue is important in enhancing the uniformity and consistency of the postthaw viability of the tissue. Magnetic resonance (MR) is a common nondestructive technique that can be used to quantitate the temporal and spatial composition of water and cryoprotective agents in a three-dimensional system. We have applied a recently developed rapid NMR imaging technique to quantify the transport of water in an artificial dermal replacement upon permeation of dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) solutions. Results indicate that the rate of water transport is slower in the presence of Me₂SO molecules. Furthermore, the transport is concentration-dependent, suggesting that Me₂SO tends to retain bound water molecules in the tissue. Moreover, water transport decreases with decreasing temperature, and the presence of cells tends to increase water transport.