Effect of saccharides on the glass-forming tendency and stability of solutions of 2,3-butanediol, 1,2-propanediol, or 1,3-butanediol in water, phosphate-buffered saline, Euro-Collins solution, or Saint Thomas cardioplegic solution

The effect of sugars or reduced saccharides trehalose, sucrose, sorbitol, or mannitol on the glass-forming tendency during cooling and the stability of the wholly amorphous state during warming has been studied with 2,3-butanediol, 1,2-propanediol, or 1,3-butanediol in three different carrier solutions. The 2,3-butanediol contained 96.7% (w/w) racemic mixture of the levo and dextro isomers and 3.1% (w/w) of the meso isomer (called 2,3-butanediol 97% dl). The carrier solutions were water, a phosphate-buffered saline, and two organ preservation solutions (Euro-Collins and Saint Thomas), The latter two were chosen because they are often used for kidney and heart preservation, respectively. The concentrations of 2,3-butanediol, 1,2-propanediol, and 1,3-butanediol varied respectively from 25 to 34, 30 to 35, and 30% (w/w). The concentrations of saccharides were 4 or 5% (w/w). In the absence of saccharides, for a given 2,3-butanediol concentration, the glass-forming tendency increased in the following order: water, Saint Thomas, the phosphate buffer, Euro-Collins. Addition of 4 or 5% (w/w) saccharide resulted in a large increase in the glass-forming ability of the solution during cooling and increased the stability of the glass during warming; but replacement of 4 or 5% diol by an equivalent weight (percentage) of a saccharide decreased, though to a lesser extent, these properties. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.