Aim of the study was to determine the passive permeability coefficients of human erythrocyte membranes for dimethyl sulfoxide, glycerol, and 1,2-propanediol in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol, and to evaluate its cytotoxic effect at varying concentrations.

Materials and Methods. The objects of the study were еrythrocytes from human donor blood group A (II), which were stored for no more than 48 hours at a temperature of (4 ± 2) °C. The permeability coefficients of erythrocyte membranes for molecules of various cryoprotectants were determined by the small-angle light scattering method. The concentration of free hemoglobin in the supernatant and total hemoglobin of the cell suspension was estimated by the hemoglobin cyanide method using the Hemoglobin SpL 200 kit (Ukraine). Hematocrit values were determined by the microhematocytic method. 

Results. Studies of the influence of polyvinyl alcohol (9 kDa) on the permeability of human erythrocyte membranes for a number of cryoprotectants showed that the permeability coefficients for dimethyl sulfoxide and 1,2-propanediol significantly increase with the addition of 0.1% polyvinyl alcohol, after which a gradual decrease in these indicators is observed with a further increase in the concentration of polyvinyl alcohol to 1.0%. The permeability coefficient of erythrocyte membranes for glycerol in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol demonstrates a significant linear increase in proportion to the increase in the concentration of the latter (0.1 – 1.0%). Incubation of human erythrocytes with polyvinyl alcohol in the specified concentration range for 60 min at a temperature of (20 ± 2) ºС did not lead to an increase in the level of erythrocyte hemolysis.

Conclusions: Polyvinyl alcohol with a molecular weight of 9 kDa increases the permeability of human erythrocyte membranes for dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,2-propanediol and glycerol molecules, which reduces the time of saturation of cells with cryoprotectant and reduces the total time of the cryopreservation procedure, while not exhibiting a cytotoxic effect on donor blood erythrocytes.

Keywords: cryoprotectants, polyvinyl alcohol, erythrocytes, permeability, cytotoxicity.