Cellulose Nanocrystals Facilitate Needle-like Ice Crystal Growth and Modulate Molecular Targeted Ice Crystal Nucleation

Ice nucleators are of crucial and important implications in various fields including chemistry, climate, agriculture, and cryobiology. However, the complicated extract and biocompatibility of ice nucleators remain unresolved, and the mechanism of ice nucleation remains largely unknown. Herein, we show that natural nanocrystalline cellulose materials possess special properties to enhance ice nucleation and facilitate needle-like ice crystal growth. We reveal the molecular level mechanism that the efficient exposure of cellulose hydroxyl groups on (-110) surface leads to faster nucleation of water. We further design chitosandecorated cellulose nanocrystals to accomplish molecular cryoablation in CD 44 high-expression cells; the cell viability shows more than similar to 10 times decrease compared to cryoablation alone and does not show evident systematic toxicity. Collectively, our findings also offer improved knowledge in molecular level ice nucleation, which may benefit multiple research communities and disciplines.

Automated summary

Ice nucleators play crucial roles in various fields, but their complicated extract and biocompatibility remain unresolved. This study demonstrates that nanocrystalline cellulose materials have special properties to enhance ice nucleation and ice crystal growth, revealing a molecular level mechanism behind it.