Description
Cryopreservation is widely used for long-term cell preservation, but the dynamic process of cryoprotectant permeation within cellular systems during freezing and rewarming remains difficult to study directly. In this work, we developed a cryogenic stimulated Raman scattering microscopy platform for real-time, label-free, chemically resolved imaging of an cell–water–DMSO mixed system during the cryopreservation process. By selectively mapping different components, the system enables real-time visualization of chemical component distribution under different stages of cryopreservation. Time-resolved imaging further reveals the temporal evolution of DMSO concentration during both cooling and rewarming, providing spatially resolved information on cryoprotectant permeation. These results demonstrate that cryogenic SRS microscopy can serve as a powerful tool for monitoring physicochemical changes during cell cryopreservation.
