Polyampholytes as Emerging Macromolecular Cryoprotectants

This perspective is the first review type article on polyampholytes as cryoprotectants and it covers important contributions from both our group and other global leaders in this area.In this perspective we summarise typical methods of cryopreservation for mammalian cells and highlight some of the specific challenges. We then discuss the synthesis and properties of polyampholytes as macromolecular cryoprotectants and detail ways in which polyampholytes have been used to enhance mammalian cell cryopreservation. We further hypothesise about their specific function and how this exciting new field will develop.