KHOSLA, KANAV2021-09-242021-09-242019-06https://hdl.handle.net/11299/224669University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. June 2019. Major: Mechanical Engineering. Advisor: John Bischof. 1 computer file (PDF); xiii, 118 pages.This work describes the development of a platform technology called Laser Nanowarming that has enabled the cryopreservation of Zebrafish embryos for the first time. By injecting propylene glycol (PG) and biocompatible gold nanorods (GNR) followed by rapid cooling (90,000 °C/min), embryos were cryogenically stabilized to liquid nitrogen temperatures. Since the effective concentration of PG inside the embryos is approximately 2M, the embryos require rapid rewarming, which was achieved by using a 1064nm powerful millisecond laser pulse that can generate rates up to 14 million °C/min. We leverage biocompatible and photonic GNR that can create rapid and uniform warming throughout the embryo and overcome the damage induced by ice crystallization. We have since adapted this technology to demonstrate successful outcomes in Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDF) cells as well as Coral larvae (F. Scutaria) and continue to use it to enable the cryopreservation of Pancreatic Islets, Drosophila Embryos, Shrimp Nauplii and other fish embryos. Our future work is geared towards improving the long-term survival rate of biological specimens as well as developing efficient high throughput methods. If successful, this technology can transform the way germplasm are banked and create a huge impact in the fields of species conservation, biomedical research and aquaculture.encryopreservationgold nanoparticlezebrafishThesis or Dissertation