Intracellular trehalose improves the survival of human red blood cells by freeze-drying

Freeze-drying of human red blood cells has a potential important application for blood transfusion. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intracellular trehalose on the survival of red blood cells after freeze-drying and rehydration. Fresh red blood cells were incubated in trehalose solutions of various concentrations at 37°C for 7 h following freeze-drying. Polyvinylpyrrolidone, Trehalose, sodium citrate, and human serum albumin were used as extracellular protective agents for the freeze-drying of red blood cells. The results indicated that the intracellular trehalose concentration was increased with increasing concentration of extracellular trehalose solution, and the maximum concentration of intracellular trehalose reached 35 mmol/L. The viability of freeze-dried red blood cells increased with the increment of intracellular trehalose concentration.