# An Ultra-fast Cooling Device for Vitrification and Cryopreservation of Cells and Tissues

> **NIH NIH R44** · CRYOCRATE, LLC · 2020 · $313,256

## Abstract

Summary
The mission of CryoCrate LLC (www.CryoCrate.com) is to develop new platform cryopreservation technologies
for applications in life science and clinical practice. With recent rapid advances in cell-based tissue engineering
and regenerative medicine, as well as continued development of transplantation technologies, there has always
been an urgent need for clinically practical methods and efficient devices for cryopreservation of large stocks of
bioartificial and donor tissues. In the Phase I period of this project, we successfully established a novel ultra-fast
cooling method (106K/min on cellular level) for small tissues. In the Phase II period, we will: 1) design an
upgraded device system that achieves the same efficiency for cryopreservation of the whole corneas and large
bioartificial tissues and facilitate their clinical and research use; 2) produce the device as a mature product by
working with a professional manufacturer (Gateway Discovery Products LLC) and cGMP consultant (Cardinal
Health); and 3) test the post-thaw in-vitro viability and functionalities of the corneas and bioartificial retinal tissues,
and conduct in-vivo animal studies on rabbits (Vision Research Center at UMKC). After achieving these
milestones, we will work with our eye bank collaborator (Saving Sight), current distributor (Mayflower Bioscience),
and potential strategic partner (Thermo Fisher Scientific) to introduce the product to corneal transplantation and
tissue engineering markets.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10221208
- **Project number:** 3R44OD020163-02A1S1
- **Recipient organization:** CRYOCRATE, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Xu Han
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $313,256
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2015-08-16 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10221208

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10221208, An Ultra-fast Cooling Device for Vitrification and Cryopreservation of Cells and Tissues (3R44OD020163-02A1S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10221208. Licensed CC0.

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