Cell‐friendly regulation of ice crystals by antifreeze organism‐inspired materials

• Published in: AIChE journal Vol. 68; no. 10
• Main Authors: Yang, Jing, Liu, Min, Zhang, Tiantong, Ma, Jianfan, Ma, Yiming, Tian, Shu, Li, Ruiqi, Han, You, Zhang, Lei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.2022; American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subjects: antifreeze organism; Binding; bioinspired; cell cryopreservation; Cell survival; Cryopreservation; Crystal surfaces; Crystals; Freeze thaw cycles; Freeze-thawing; Gels; Ice; ice control materials; Ice crystals; Ice formation; ice recrystallization inhibition; Synergistic effect
• ISSN: 0001-1541; 1547-5905
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.17822

There is a dilemma between ice growth inhibition and cell‐threatening sharp‐edged ice formation, dominating an unfavorable efficiency of cell cryoprotection using ice control materials (ICMs). Herein, we design different‐type antifreeze organism‐inspired ICMs and show the cell‐friendly regulation of ice crystals by a synergistic effect for cell cryoprotection. Preferred rapid adsorption of “high‐diffusivity ICM” on the curved ice crystal surface induced by “ice‐binding ICM,” owing to the Gibbs–Curie–Wulff theorem, promotes smooth‐shaped and small ice crystal formation during the freeze–thaw cycle. Meanwhile, their intracellular and extracellular osmotic balance well protects the cryopreserved cells. All‐round protection benefits cell survival to achieve a cryopreservation efficiency of 97%. After cryopreservation, ice‐binding ICM exhibits double thermosensitive behaviors to directly encapsulate post‐thaw cells by gels, to further support cell‐based therapies. This work provides an in‐depth understanding of cell cryoprotection, and paves the road to the development of even better ICMs for biospecimen cryopreservation.