Application of a thermoelectric cooling approach for localized hypothermia in a murine model

Achieving localized and adjustable hypothermia is critical for various clinical and experimental applications, including reducing oxidative stress, modulating inflammatory responses, and enabling temperature-triggered drug delivery. However, existing cooling techniques such as ice packs, and cryogenic sprays limitations in precision, efficiency, duration, and cooling capacity. In this study, we used a commercially available thermoelectric cooling module to construct a simple and low-cost cooling system, and applied it in a preclinical mouse model to achieve focal hypothermia at a subcutaneous transplant site.•The system, assembled using a TES1-4903 thermoelectric module, a heat sink, and a power supply, achieved rapid temperature reduction rates. At 5 V, the subcutaneous temperature decreased at an average rate of ∼1.5 °C/s during the first 10 s, reaching a stable temperature of ∼8 °C within 120 s. At 2 V, the average rate was ∼0.4 °C/s, stabilizing at ∼17 °C over the same period.•The system demonstrated precise temperature control with minimal variability, maintaining temperature steps of <2 °C and ensuring a stable temperature range.•Compared to literature, our system highlights the utility of thermoelectric modules for biomedical cooling applications, demonstrating faster and safer subcutaneous hypothermia with more precise temperature control than other approaches.