Cryopreservation of human platelets with propane-1,2-diol

The preceding papers in this series have described techniques that permit the introduction and removal of propane-1,2-diol (propylene glycol, PG) with human platelets, in concentrations up to 2 M, without producing serious damage. These methods have now been used in attempts to cryopreserve platelets, with assessment of survival by the hypotonic stress response and ADP-induced aggregation. PG concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 2.5 M and cooling rates between 0.4 and 100 degrees C/min were studied. The maximum response in the hypotonic stress test was no better than 17% and the greatest ADP-induced aggregation was only 6%; these results were obtained with 0.5 M PG, a cooling rate of 14 degrees C/min, and rapid warming (approximately 150 degrees C/min). The failure of PG concentrations greater than 0.5 M to improve survival was unexpected. When cooling was interrupted at progressively lower temperatures and function assessed, it was possible to relate the extent of damage to temperature and then, with the aid of phase diagrams, it was possible to show that, irrespective of the initial concentration of PG, the extent of damage was closely correlated with the concentration of PG produced at the minimum temperature used. It is concluded that the toxicity of PG increases so steeply with the increasing concentration produced by the separation of ice during freezing that this effect is sufficient to counteract the cryoprotective action of this solute for platelets.