Cryopreservation of Skin: An Assessment of Current Clinical Applicability

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Abstract
Cryopreservation of human cadaveric skin for allografting is reviewed. Critical measurements that govern the freezing process are identified and discussed. To date, the optimal viability of frozen-thawed skin has been obtained with the combination of controlled cooling at 1-5 C per minute and thawing at 50-70 C per minute in the presence of glycerol or dimethylsulfoxide in a concentration of 10% or greater. Further work will be required to define protocols that will achieve optimal post-thaw viability in order to fully exploit the clinical potential of cryopreserved skins. The importance and control of various thermal and chemical values are discussed. There is a paucity of data on the basic physiochemical and permeability properties of skin both at subfreezing and suprafreezing temperatures. Such data are central to the rational design of optimal freezing protocols.

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