Disclosed herein is a loading apparatus for restoration and/or cryopreservation of biological materials, a system comprising the same, as well as a method for using the loading apparatus and/or system to restore and/or cryopreserve biological materials. The disclosed loading apparatus and method for using the same focuses on utilizing cycles of applying and removing a load (e.g., tension and/or compression pressure) applied to the biological material that facilitate free-swelling of the biological material back to its natural state without the applied load, wherein the free-swelling promotes dispersion of a cryopreservation agent, therapeutic agent, restoration agent, or a combination thereof throughout the surface area of the biological material.

Described is a protective solution for avoiding ischemic, storage or ischemia/reperfusion to organs, or to isolated cell systems, or to tissue components after perfusion, surgery, transplantation, or cryopreservation and subsequent reperfusion, which contains alkali ions, and if need be also alkaline earth ions as the electrolyte, a buffer e.g. on a histidine derivation basis, as well as a polyol and/or a saccharide, has an osmolarity of about 290 mosm/l to about 350 mosm/l, as well as a pH value of about 6.8 to about 7.4, and to which hydroxamic acid, and/or one or more hydroxamic acid derivatives are added.

A portable, ex vivo perfusion system for preserving detached biological tissue includes a receptacle for housing the tissue in a normothermic environment, a perfusion core to pump perfusate through the tissue via at least one conduit, at least one detection device to measure parameters during perfusion, and at least one parameter control device to maintain the parameter in a predetermined threshold. The system also include a controller with instructions to receive the measured parameters, compare the parameters to predetermined thresholds, and when the parameters are outside the thresholds change an output of the at least one parameter control device to get the parameters within the threshold and alert a user that parameters were outside the thresholds.

A portable, ex vivo perfusion system for preserving detached biological tissue includes a receptacle for housing the tissue in a normothermic environment, a perfusion core to pump perfusate through the tissue via at least one conduit, at least one detection device to measure parameters during perfusion, and at least one parameter control device to maintain the parameter in a predetermined threshold. The system also include a controller with instructions to receive the measured parameters, compare the parameters to predetermined thresholds, and when the parameters are outside the thresholds change an output of the at least one parameter control device to get the parameters within the threshold and alert a user that parameters were outside the thresholds.

Methods for improving the functionality and/or fertility of sperm, for example, by enhancing motility and/or extending the lifespan of sperm by subjecting the isolated sperm to a starvation protocol and/or ionophore are provided. Such methods may be used in, for example, artificial insemination to reduce the number of sperm needed for insemination and to improve conception rates.

Methods for improving the functionality and/or fertility of sperm, for example, by enhancing motility and/or extending the lifespan of sperm by subjecting the isolated sperm to a starvation protocol and/or ionophore are provided. Such methods may be used in, for example, artificial insemination to reduce the number of sperm needed for insemination and to improve conception rates.

A system (200) for supporting a patient organ can include a primary circuit (212b), a secondary circuit (212a), and a controller (214). The primary circuit can include an inlet configured to connect to the patient (54), an outlet configured to connect to the patient, and a primary pump (206a). The secondary circuit can be connected to the primary blood circuit and can include an enclosure (202) configured to support an organ (50) therein in a blood flow, a secondary pump, a gas transfer unit (208), and a secondary sensor (238a). The controller can be configured to operate the gas transfer unit based on the secondary sensor signal. The organ may be a bio-engineered organ. In an example, the organ is a liver and operates to perform functions of a liver in place of or in support of the liver of the patient.

A system (200) for supporting a patient organ can include a primary circuit (212b), a secondary circuit (212a), and a controller (214). The primary circuit can include an inlet configured to connect to the patient (54), an outlet configured to connect to the patient, and a primary pump (206a). The secondary circuit can be connected to the primary blood circuit and can include an enclosure (202) configured to support an organ (50) therein in a blood flow, a secondary pump, a gas transfer unit (208), and a secondary sensor (238a). The controller can be configured to operate the gas transfer unit based on the secondary sensor signal. The organ may be a bio-engineered organ. In an example, the organ is a liver and operates to perform functions of a liver in place of or in support of the liver of the patient.

The present invention relates to biobased glyceryl heptanoate compositions, and preferably glyceryl monoheptanoate compositions, methods of manufacturing the same, as well as applications thereof including the use of the inventive compositions in formulations for cosmetics and other personal care applications. The biobased monoglyceryl monoester (MGME) compositions include a mixture including one or more compounds of Formula (I): ##STR00001##
R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are independently H or C(O)C.sub.6 alkyl. The composition comprises greater than about 60 wt % and less than about 98 wt % glyceryl monoheptanoate. The carbon present in the one or more compounds of Formula (I) is biobased. The composition has an ET.sub.50 value of >24 hr when tested as a 1% solution in water according to the EpiDerm Skin Irritation Test (OECD 439). The present invention also relates to microbiostatic concentrates (MBCs) including the disclosed composition.

The present invention relates to biobased glyceryl heptanoate compositions, and preferably glyceryl monoheptanoate compositions, methods of manufacturing the same, as well as applications thereof including the use of the inventive compositions in formulations for cosmetics and other personal care applications. The biobased monoglyceryl monoester (MGME) compositions include a mixture including one or more compounds of Formula (I): ##STR00001##
R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are independently H or C(O)C.sub.6 alkyl. The composition comprises greater than about 60 wt % and less than about 98 wt % glyceryl monoheptanoate. The carbon present in the one or more compounds of Formula (I) is biobased. The composition has an ET.sub.50 value of >24 hr when tested as a 1% solution in water according to the EpiDerm Skin Irritation Test (OECD 439). The present invention also relates to microbiostatic concentrates (MBCs) including the disclosed composition.