The Gibson group have demonstrated that a synthetic polymer can reproduce the desirable features of antifreeze proteins, which are normally found in polar fish species. These proteins are very difficult to obtain, but have the unique proeprty of slowing the rate at which ice crystals grow. Ice crystal growth during the cryopreservation of human cells/tissue is a huge medical challenge; for example, donor blood can only be stored for a limited time, and bone marrow is stored in 20 % DMSO (an organic solvent). In this work, the Gibson Group showed that addition of the biomimetic polymer enable human red blood cells to be cryopreserved without the addition of any organic solvents.

Press Release can be read here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/arctic_cod_inspire/

Read the Article in Nature Communications