Degradable Polyampholytes from Radical Ring-Opening Copolymerization Enhance Cellular Cryopreservation

ABSTRACT: Macromolecular cryoprotectants based on polyampholytes are showing promise as supplemental cryoprotectants alongside conventional DMSO-based freezing. Here we exploit radical ring-opening (ter)polymerization to access ester-containing cryoprotective polyampholytes, which were shown to be degradable. Using a challenging cell monolayer cryopreservation model, the degradable polyampholytes were found to enhance post-thaw recovery when supplemented into DMSO. This demonstrates that degradable macromolecular cryoprotectants can be developed for application in biotechnology and biomedicine.

Automated summary

Degradable polyampholytes with ester-containing cryoprotective properties were synthesized using radical ring-opening (ter)polymerization. These polyampholytes showed enhanced post-thaw recovery when supplemented into DMSO, suggesting their potential application in biotechnology and biomedicine.