Glass transition behavior of the vitrification solutions containing propanediol, dimethyl sulfoxide and polyvinyl alcohol

Knowledge of the glass transition behavior of vitrification solutions is important for research and planning of the cryopreservation of biological materials by vitrification. This brief communication shows the analysis for the glass transition and glass stability of the multi-component vitrification solutions containing propanediol (PE), dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) during the cooling and subsequent warming between 25 and −150 °C. The glass formation of the solutions was enhanced by introduction of PVA. Partial glass formed during cooling and the fractions of free water in the partial glass matrix increased with the increasing of PVA concentration, which caused slight decline of glass transition temperature, T_g. Exothermic peaks of devitrification were delayed and broadened, which may result from the inhibition of ice nucleation or recrystallization of PVA.