Hypothermic preservation of red blood cells in different conditions of inert gas xenon: hyperbaria and clathrates

Background: Xenon is an inert gas promising for the preservation of biomaterials, which forms clathrate hydrates above 0°C. Objective: This study addresses the effect of hyperbaric xenon (P = 303 kPa) and water-xenon clathrates (P ≥ 608 kPa) on 30 days preservation of red blood cells (RBCs) at +4°C. Materials and Methods: RBCs from healthy human donors were preserved under four different conditions: without preservatives (negative control), in CPDA-1, hyperbaric xenon, and xenon clathrate hydrates. Results: The qualitative (mean RBC volume, anisocytosis degree and mean osmotic fragility) and quantitative characteristics (RBC count and hemolysis degree) of preserved RBCs were measured. Conclusion: The positive role of hyperbaric xenon in the preservation of erythrocytes is attributed to the equilibrium extraction and displacement of O and CO by xenon. The effect is presumably due to a lowering of oxygen concentration and a decrease in the production of reactive oxygen species