A significant advancement in transplant medicine has been achieved with the development of a device capable of preserving organs at temperatures below the freezing point of water. Traditionally, organs intended for transplant are stored on ice at approximately 4 °C (39 °F) to prevent cellular decay. However, this method is limited by a strict time window, as organs begin to deteriorate shortly after removal from a donor.
Previous attempts to lower storage temperatures further were hindered by the formation of ice crystals, which caused irreparable damage to the tissue. The new technology allows kidneys to be cooled to -4 °C (25 °F) without ice formation. Researchers have successfully demonstrated the efficacy of this method by preserving pig kidneys for several days before performing successful transplantations.
Source: MIT Technology Review
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