Supercooling and vitrification of aqueous glycerol solutions at normal and high pressures

The supercooling and vitrification of aqueous glycerol solutions was studied at high pressures. Homogeneous ice nucleation temperatures (TH) were obtained for aqueous glycerol solutions of R = 50, 30, 20, 12, and 10 (R: moles of water/moles of glycerol) up to 300 MPa. The R = 20 glycerol solution formed a glass above 200 MPa at a cooling rate of 200 °C/min, indicating that pressure enhances glass-formation of aqueous glycerol solutions. The (dTg/dP) values were obtained for vitrified aqueous glycerol solutions of R = 3, 5, 10, and 20. These data can be used for the development of cryo-preservation liquids for living cells at high pressures.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Homogeneous ice nucleation temperatures were measured at high pressures. ► Applied pressure enhances supercooling and vitrification of a glycerol solution. ► Glass transition temperature was measured as a function of pressure.