Towards Studying Natural Convention During Vitrification with High-Speed In-Lab Tomographic X-ray Particle Velocimetry

Vitrification occurs when a liquid solution is cooled faster than a critical cooling rate (CCR) such that it achieves a glassy rather than crystal-ice solid state. Vitrification is a promising approach for the long-term cryopreservation of biological specimens, for which ice can be deadly. However, vitrification remains largely unrealized in practical use. High concentrations of cryopreserving agents (CPAs) are necessary to lower the CCR to be achievable. Recently, rigid confinement has shown promising results for vitrification cryopreservation; flow due to natural convection and thermal contraction could have a significant effect on the result. Yet, visual or invasive measurements of phase change, convection-induced fluid motion, and solute transport are not possible due to confinement in opaque metal chambers. Metal chambers are necessary to sustain high pressures and heat transfer rates during rigid confinement vitrification of large fluid volumes. We present results on 1) vitrification outcomes in isochoric confinement and, 2) O(1 kHz) frame rate in-lab tomographic X-ray particle tracking velocimetry, which can next be applied to vitrification. Together, these two studies point the way forward for experimental studies on vitrification and more comprehensive understanding of the thermo- and fluid dynamics.