Hibernating/Awakening Nanomotors Promote Highly Efficient Cryopreservation by Limiting Ice Crystals

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Ice crystal formation during cryopreservation causes significant cell and tissue damage.
• Preventing ice crystal damage is crucial for effective cryopreservation but remains challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel hibernating/awakening nanomotor system for active inhibition of ice crystal formation.
• To demonstrate a new method for highly efficient cryopreservation using these nanomotors.

Main Methods:

• Development of a hibernating/awakening nanomotor (Mg@Pd@SiO2) with magnesium and palladium coating on a silica platform.
• Utilizing the nanomotor in live NCM460 cell cultures to inhibit ice crystal formation.
• Employing laser-mediated heating to activate the nanomotor and release hydrogen (H2) for recrystallization suppression.

Main Results:

• Cooling the Mg@Pd@SiO2 nanomotor releases Mg2+/H2, promoting H2 adsorption on cell surfaces to inhibit ice crystal formation and damage.
• The nanomotor acts as a hibernating system, storing H2 until activated by laser heating.
• Activated nanomotors release H2, further suppressing recrystallization and reducing cell/tissue damage.

Conclusions:

• Hibernating/awakening nanomotors offer a promising strategy to actively control ice crystal formation.
• This technology has significant potential for advancing highly efficient and damage-free cryopreservation techniques.