Polyglutamic acids as potent antifreeze molecules

Peptides with specific alanine and glutamic acid ratios inhibit ice crystal formation, addressing the limitations of existing antifreeze molecules by providing effective cryoprotectant solutions for various applications including biomedical cryopreservation, food technology, agriculture, and building materials.

WO2026128828A2 Publication Date: 2026-06-18UNIV OF UTAH RES FOUND
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/US2025/059434
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-12-13
Filing Date
2025-12-12
Publication Date
2026-06-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing antifreeze molecules, such as antifreeze glycoproteins from polar fish, are expensive and impractical to harvest, and synthetic alternatives have not achieved comparable potency in inhibiting ice crystal growth, necessitating a need for bioinspired synthetic polymers that effectively inhibit ice crystal formation.

Method used

Development of peptides comprising specific ratios of alanine and glutamic acid residues, with a chain length of at least 15 amino acids, which inhibit ice crystal formation and can be used in cryoprotectant compositions, food products, agricultural formulations, cosmetic compositions, and structural applications.

Benefits of technology

The peptides effectively inhibit ice crystal formation, offering utility in biomedical cryopreservation, food technology, agriculture, and building materials, with potential as cryoprotectants and ice-recrystallization inhibitors, improving post-thaw tissue viability and preventing mechanical damage.

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Abstract

The present disclosure is concerned with peptides comprising alanine residues and glutamic acid residues in a particular ratio (e.g., from about 1 : 1 to about 4; I ). wherein the peptide has a minimum chain length, such as, for example a chain length of at least 15 or at least 20 amino acid residues. The disclosed peptides beneficially inhibit ice crystal formation, and, therefore, offer utility in a wide range of applications, including, but not limited to biomedical cryopreservation. food technology, agriculture, cosmetics, and building materials. Thus, the disclosed peptides can be formulated into a composition (e.g.. a cryoprotectant composition, an agricultural formulation, a cosmetic composition) or a food product, or, alternatively, can be attached or coated onto a surface for use in structural applications. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
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