Rational design of new synthetic antifreeze molecules for cryopreservation

该项目旨在合成新型碳水化合物表面活性剂，优化用作冷冻保护剂，并准确测量、建模和优化其性能。该项目将使用最先进的实验方法和先进的相场建模技术来优化冷冻保护剂，以便它们在冷冻和解冻期间减少细胞中的渗透应力并抑制冰晶生长。预期的结果将是易于合成、无毒且有效的新型冷冻保护剂，为细胞、器官甚至整个生物体的冷冻保存开辟了新的可能性。这将对长期血液储存、生殖技术和干细胞治疗以及濒危物种保护等关键应用产生广泛影响。

This project aims to synthesise new carbohydrate-based surfactants optimised for use as cryoprotectants, and to accurately measure, model and optimise their performance. The project will use state-of-the-art experimental methods and advanced phase-field modelling techniques to optimise the cryoprotectants so that they reduce osmotic stress in cells and inhibit ice crystal growth during freezing and thawing. The expected outcomes will be novel cryoprotectants that are easy to synthesise, non-toxic and effective, opening up new possibilities for the cryopreservation of cells, organs and possibly even whole organisms. This will have broad impact in critical applications such as long-term blood storage, reproductive technology and stem cell therapy, as well as preservation of endangered species.