El hafnio protege las muestras de sangre de los cristales de hielo

Ice crystals are a real problem in frozen blood samples. This is because the cell membranes of blood cells are very sensitive and can be easily damaged. Chinese researchers have now found that hafnium-based metal-organic frameworks, known as MOFs, can help cryoprotectants work more effectively.

Unlike the disordered polymers used in conventional cryoprotectants, hafnium MOFs make it possible to control interactions with water molecules more precisely. This results in more efficient protection. In an experiment, the researchers also found that the effectiveness of hafnium MOFs increased the thinner the material layers used were. While conventional antifreeze agents are used at a high concentration of 30%, the researchers reduced the proportion of hafnium MOFs to as little as 0.1%, with their effectiveness steadily increasing.

The excellent cryoprotective effect at such an extremely small amount is due to the irregular two-dimensional pattern of the ligands. This most efficiently prevents the formation of ice crystals. Ligands are important components in chemistry that can determine how metal ions interact with, or respond to, other molecules.

Hafnium is an important technology metal, particularly in medicine. Its price increase at the moment is enormous, so an investment offers the opportunity for attractive returns that are also tax-free.