The classical water transport model developed by Mazur was extended to be capable of predicting cell volumetric change even after intracellular ice formation (IIF). By coupling the modified Mazur model, ice nucleation, and the diffusion-limited ice growth theory, the new model describing IIF and the growth of the intracellular ice (IIG) was developed based on Karlsson’s work in 1994. The new model could be used to predict IIF, IIG, the final volumetric fraction of the intracellular ice without the limitation of initial cryoprotective agent (CPA) concentration. The model was then used to study the effect of cooling rate and initial CPA concentration on IIF and IIG. It was found that i) the presence of CPA could markedly slow down IIG and decrease the final volume of intracellular ice, and ii) there exists the optimal cooling rate with minimal final volume of intracellular ice corresponding to certain initial CPA and its concentration.

Key words: intracellular ice, nucleation, ice crystal growth, Karlsson model