A preservation method for biological material having cell membranes includes
reversibly
porating the cell membranes; loading a bio-protective agent having bio-preservation
properties to a predetermined intracellular concentration; preparing the bio-protective
agent loaded biological material for storage; storing the biological material;
recovering the stored biological material from storage; and reversing the cell
membrane poration. H5 -toxin, a genetically engineered mutant of Staphylococcus
aureus -hemolysin, may be used as a porating agent. Non-permeating sugars
such as trehalose and sucrose may be used as the bio-protective agent.
