X-Message-Number: 17430
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 05:29:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: Plastination

> Message #17426 From: Charles Platt <>
> 
> Anyone know if this report is accurate when it claims that the process is
> accurate "to the cellular level"? If so, nanotech true-believers might
> prefer this over current methods of cryopreservation. And the maintenance
> costs would be negligible.
> 
This is a variation on a tissue processing process called
embedding. Tissue is first chemically preserved, then dehydrated in
alcohol, and finally slowly dehydrated in plastic monomer. The result is
not completely stable at room temperature, if formaldehyde is used as a
fixative. The plastic itself appears to offer no advantage over simple
alcohol dehydration for long term preservation. The later is so cheap, and
effective, with an additional DNA preservative such as sodium chloride,
that it may offer an alternative to cryonics, particularly in cases where
cryoprotectants can not be used. Freezing without at least partial
dehydration is rather more destructive to cellular morphology than ethanol
dehydration.

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