Issue 2, 2019

Ice-recrystallization inhibiting polymers protect proteins against freeze-stress and enable glycerol-free cryostorage

Abstract

Proteins are ubiquitous in molecular biotechnology, biotechnology and as therapeutics, but there are significant challenges in their storage and distribution, with freezing often required. This is traditionally achieved by the addition of cryoprotective agents such as glycerol (or trehalose) or covalent modification of mutated proteins with cryoprotectants. Here, ice recrystallization inhibiting polymers, inspired by antifreeze proteins, are used synergistically with poly(ethylene glycol) as an alternative to glycerol. The primary mechanism of action appears to be preventing irreversible aggregation due to ice growth. The polymer formulation is successfully used to cryopreserve a range of important proteins including insulin, Taq DNA polymerase and an IgG antibody. The polymers do not require covalent conjugation, nor modification of the protein and are already used in a wide range of biomedical applications, which will facilitate translation to a range of biologics.

Graphical abstract: Ice-recrystallization inhibiting polymers protect proteins against freeze-stress and enable glycerol-free cryostorage

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
20 Jun 2018
Accepted
19 Oct 2018
First published
08 Nov 2018
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Mater. Horiz., 2019,6, 364-368

Ice-recrystallization inhibiting polymers protect proteins against freeze-stress and enable glycerol-free cryostorage

D. E. Mitchell, A. E. R. Fayter, R. C. Deller, M. Hasan, J. Gutierrez-Marcos and M. I. Gibson, Mater. Horiz., 2019, 6, 364 DOI: 10.1039/C8MH00727F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements