Abstract
Heat transfer and simplified physicochemical model for thawing of the frozen biological cell element consisting of cell and extracellular region was proposed. The melting of intra-and extra-cellular ice, the water transport through cell membrane and other microscale behavior during thawing process were discussed as a function of temperature. Recovery of the cell volume and change of osmotic pressure difference during thawing were clarified theortically in connection with heating velocity, initial cell volume and membrane permeability. Extending this model, the thawing of cellular tissue consisted of numerous cell elements was also simulated. There was a position where osmotic pressure difference became maximum during thawing. Summarizing these results, the thawing damage due to osmotic stress was discussed in relation with the heating operation and the size effect of tissue.
