Cryogenic Thermophysical Studies for Clinical Medicine

Cryogenic technology has been widely used in clinical medicine and in pharmaceutics, so thermophysical studies are extremely important to solve problems during freezing and thawing. This paper reports some recent research in clinical medicine, including cryo injury, cryosurgery, and cryopreservation of some important cells and tissues. Microscopic images of the freezing process with a cryomicroscope system show that the dendritic ice growth is affected by the solution concentration, the cooling rate, and the number of embryos. An enthalpy method is used for the freeze thaw analysis of the cryosurgery with a program developed to predict the temperature profile and the interface motion, which compares well with experimental results. A very rapid cooling technique is developed by quenching the samples into subcooled liquid nitrogen for vitrification of cells and tissues. An analytical method developed to prevent the fracture of arteries during freezing has been verified by the electronic microscopic investigation.

Biobanking efforts and new advances in male Fertility preservation for rare and endangered species

Understanding and sustaining biodiversity is a multi-disciplinary science that benefits highly from the creation of organized and accessible collections of biomaterials （Genome Resource Banks）. Large cryo-collections are invaluable tools for understanding, cataloging, and protecting the genetic diversity of the world＇s unique animals and plants. Specifically, the systematic collection and preservation of semen from rare species has been developed significantly in recent decades with some biobanks now being actively used for endangered species management and propagation （including the introduction of species such as the black-footed ferret and the giant panda）. Innovations emerging from the growing field of male fertility preservation for humans, livestock species, and laboratory animals are also becoming relevant to the protection and the propagation of valuable domestic and wild species. These new approaches extend beyond the ＂classical＂ methods associated with sperm freezing to include testicular tissue preservation combined with xenografting or in vitro culture, all of which have potential for rescuing vast amounts of unused germplasm. There also are other options under development that are predicted to have a high impact within the next decade （stem cell technologies, bio-stabilization of sperm cells at ambient temperatures, and the use of genomics tools）. However, biobanking efforts and new fertility preservation strategies have to expand the way beyond mammalian species, which will offer knowledge and tools to better manage species that serve as valuable biomedical models or require assistance to reverse endangerment.

Biobanking: A foundation of life-science research and advancement

As a foundation of life-science research and advancement,biobanking has played a critical role and made tremendous contributions to healthcare,biotechnology,disease control and prevention,as well as bio-conservation for the benefit of all humankind.This paper starts with a brief introduction of basic concepts,history,classification,and significance of biobanking,followed by a discussion on cryobiology fundamentals and key challenges faced by cryopreservation in biobanking.A special case discussion on the cryopreservation and biobanking of pathogenic microorganisms to meet both the unmet needs for biomedical research and the urgent demand for developing countermeasures against the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic is highlighted with insightful recommendations for future studies.