Permeability of the plasma membrane to water and cryoprotectants of Coelastrella thermophila var. globulina microalgae cells

The study of osmotic reactions of cells during freezing and thawing is a crucial topic requiring detailed investigation. Understanding these processes allows for the optimization of cryopreservation protocols, thereby improving cell survival after thawing. While the literature provides information on the osmotic characteristics of various mammalian cells, data on plant cells, including microalgae, remain scarce. This article examines the osmotic behavior of microalgae cells, which are promising from a biotechnological perspective, during freezing and thawing. We obtained results on the osmotically inactive cell volume and, using a physical-mathematical model, determined the permeability coefficients of cells for water and cryoprotectants. These results will be used in further work on developing cryopreservation protocols for microalgae, enabling the optimization of the process and achieving the best possible post-thaw survival outcomes.