Supercooled kidneys have been transplanted into pigs in a “landmark achievement”
Researchers have successfully transplanted supercooled pig kidneys after storing them at subzero temperatures without ice formation. This breakthrough could significantly extend the shelf life of donor organs and help address the critical shortage of transplantable kidneys.
Why it matters
Extending organ storage time could prevent the waste of thousands of viable kidneys and save lives by providing more flexibility in matching donors with recipients.
Kidneys kept at subzero temperatures in pressure-controlled containers can be stored for days before transplantation, raising hopes for longer-term storage of donated human organs.
When it comes to organ donation, time is everything . As soon as an organ has been carefully removed from a donor’s body, it starts to deteriorate. Surgeons have a matter of hours to get it into a recipient. Leave it too long and the organ will become unusable.
In most cases, organs will be kept on ice during that time, at around 4 °C (39 °F). They cannot be frozen—in previous attempts, ice has formed, causing all kinds of damage.
Matthew Powell Palm at Texas A&M University and his colleagues have an alternative solution—a device that allows organs to be cooled to -4 °C (25 °F) without forming any ice.
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