Biocompatible materials with ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity have potential
applications in several fields. Emerging studies have associated the IRI activity of antifreeze
proteins/glycoproteins and several mimics of synthetic materials with a facially amphipathic
structure. Nanocelluloses are a new family of renewable materials that demonstrate
amphiphilicity. Herein the IRI activity of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and 2, 2, 6, 6-
tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TEMPO-CNFs) is reported. In …

Ice recrystallization (IR) is the change in size, number, and morphology of ice crystals during
storage and thawing, which causes cell death in cryopreservation. Recent studies link a
facial amphiphilic structure to the IR inhibition (IRI) activity in antifreeze (glyco) proteins (AF
(G) Ps) and mimics. Recent studies also found that nanocelluloses are amphiphilic. We
hypothesized that nanocelluloses are IRI active and can be used to improve the cell viability
in cryopreservation. The first part of this research explored the IRI activity in nanocelluloses …