Principles of Plastination

PRINCIPLES OF PLASTINATION

Carlos A. C. Baptista, M.D., M.S, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Neurosciences College of Medicine The University of Toledo Main Campus Center for Creative Education

Panoramic View Health Science Building OUTLINE

 Definition and History  Advantages of Plastination  Type of Polymers (Silicone, Epoxy, Polyester)  Technique  Fixation  Dehydration (freeze substitution)  Impregnation  Curing WHAT IS PLASTINATION?

Plastination is a technique used in anatomy and pathology to preserve bodies or body parts. The water and fat are replaced by polymers, yielding specimens that can be touched, do not smell or decay, and retain most microscopic properties of the original sample. INVENTED BY GUNTHER VON HAGENS 1978 ADVANTAGES OF PLASTINATION

 Plastination is a technique used in anatomy and pathology  Ideal to preserve bodies, body parts and organs  Water and fat are replaced by polymer Specimens can be touched Specimens do not smell or decay Specimens are formaldehyde free Ideal for teaching and demonstrations Durable TYPE OF POLYMERS: SILICONE (S10)

Frog Heart-Lung Heart Sections

Spinal Cord - Laminectomy TYPE OF POLYMERS: EPOXY (E12)

Plastinarium Gubben - 2008 TYPE OF POLYMERS: EPOXY (E12) TYPE OF POLYMERS: POLYESTER (P40-P35) PLASTINATION TECHNIQUE

Fixation (or not) Dehydration (freeze substitution) Impregnation (Forced) Curing (Crosslinking and hardening) FIXATION 2

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5 NEUTRALIZATION AND STORAGE DEHYDRATION: ACETONE VS ETHANOL

Fresh Specimen Fixed specimen Embalmed Specimen Fresh Specimens Fixed Specimens Embalmed & Dark Specimens E1 2 Technique Archeological Wood

Stepwise Dehydration Rinse & Precool 50 % Ethanol 2% H2O2 50% bath 60% bath 70% bath Freeze Substitution (Acetone at -25 °C) 80% bath 90% bath Transparent head slices Containing brain 96% bath 100% bath 100% Acetone at + 5 °C 100% Acetone at Room Temperature

Specimens Specimens with much fat With little fat Brain slices Methylene Chloride

Forced Impregnation Forced Impregnation (S10, S15, PEM, E12) Embalmed Specimens (P35) DEHYDRATION: FREEZE SUBSTITUTION DEHYDRATION: FREEZE SUBSTITUTION

Dehydration in Explosion Proof Freezer

Acetonometer Brain Dehydration Bath DEHYDRATION: ROOM TEMPERATURE

Dehydration Containers

Acetone Recycler FORCED IMPREGNATION VACUUM CHAMBER CURING: CROSSLINKING

Aquarium Pump

Tetraethoxysilane (S6) POLYMERS FOR PLASTINATION:

BIODUR ® PRODUCTS CORCORAN LABORATORIES 69126 Heidelberg, (room temperature process) Germany Traverse City, Michigan 49686 U.S.A

VisDocta RESEARCH Silicon Inc. Via Panoramica, 2B North Carolina, USA 25080 Tignale (BS), Italy QUESTIONS ?