Stress–Strain Measurements in Vitrified Arteries Permeated With Synthetic Ice Modulators

Abstract

This study measures the Young's modulus in vitrified blood vessels below the glass transition temperature in conditions relevant to cryogenic storage and focuses on the cryoprotective agents (CPAs) cocktail DP6 mixed with synthetic ice modulators (SIMs). Small steplike strain changes were observed during the loading without affecting the bulk behavior, suggesting microfracture occurrences resembling previous observation on microfracture formation under compression in crystallized blood vessels. Young's modulus was measured to be 0.92–3.01 GPa, with no clear indication of SIM dependency on the Young's modulus. Instead, the range of values is attributed to variations between specimens of the same species.