New Way to Preserve Blood, Tissues

Synthesized antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) have shown the ability to protect red blood cells at temperatures down to -15o C.

The rate of hemolysis was dramatically reduced with the presence of the AFGP molecule. In fact, 98% of red blood cells were intact after being subjected to a temperature of -15o C for nine hours in a solution of synthetic AFGP. The red blood cells that were not protected by the synthetic AFGP were all destroyed when exposed to this temperature.

Research over the last 50 years has shown that natural AFGPs found in extreme-climate fish, insects, plants, and reptiles can preserve cells, tissues, and organs at sub-zero temperatures. Experiments prove that the synthetic AFGP functions in the same way as does the naturally occurring AFGP. The synthetic AFGP was developed by Dr. Jean-Charles Quirion and is being commercialized by ProtoKinetix, Inc. (Vancouver, Canada). Dr. Quirion is a member of the company's scientific advisory board.

"The proven stability and nontoxicity of this molecule, in addition to the ability to preserve cells, is very encouraging,” noted Dr. John Todd, president ProtoKinetix. "Although testing will be ongoing with the preservation of various cells, tissues, and organs, ProtoKinetix now feels that it is in a position to commence commercial exploitation.”




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