Production of Handmade Open Pulled Straw (OPS) Using Digital Heating Gun for the Vitrification Process.

BACKGROUND Vitrification is the most popular technique for the cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos, replacing slow freezing methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study evaluated the efficient manufacturing methods of handmade open pulled straw (OPS) with a digital heating gun that could be proposed for vitrification. RESULTS Production efficiency of OPS using 0.5 mL straw was detected at 0, 66.1, 90.5 and 85.7% for 1~2 s and 9.5, 33.3, 47.6 and 23.8% for 2~3 s of heating time at 250, 350, 400 and 450°C respectively. The production rate of OPS using 0.25 mL straw was perceived at 33.3, 76.2, 83.3, 95.2 and 57.6 % for 1.5~2.5 s time with the optimized heat setting at 330, 340, 350, 360 and 370°C respectively. The desired inner diameter (200~300 μm) of OPS could be varied according to the gamete size, embryo developmental stages or cell lines of different species. Based on our data, the production efficiency of OPS using 0.25-mL straw were increased beyond using a 0.5-mL straw. CONCLUSION Handmade OPSs could be efficiently produced with a digital heating gun to generate a vitrification device for freezing gametes, embryos and cell lines.