Vitrification

Vitrification (from Latin vitreum, "glass" via French vitrifier) is the transformation of a substance into a glass, that is to say, a non-crystalline amorphous solid. Vitrification helps to prevent the formation of ice crystals and helps prevent cryopreservation damage. In cryonics, vitrification is currently the preferred method to conduct cryopreservations.

M22 and CI-VM-1 are vitrification solutions currently used in cryonics. The cryobiologist Greg Fahy is an expert in organ cryopreservation by vitrification.

Outside cryonics vitrification is used to preserve, for example, human egg cells (oocytes) and embryos. Many woody plants living in polar regions naturally vitrify their cells to survive the cold. Some woody plants can survive immersion in liquid nitrogen and liquid helium. During the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E. a victim's brain was vitrified by the extreme heat of the volcanic ash.