Compositions and methods for reducing ice crystal formation

Inventors

Wei, Xiaoxi

Assignees

X Therma Inc

Abstract

The present invention provides peptoid polymers capable of reducing or inhibiting the formation of ice crystals at sub 0° C. temperatures. Also provided are peptoid-peptide hybrids comprising the peptoid polymers provided herein. The peptoid polymers and peptoid-peptide hybrids provided herein are useful for making cryoprotectant solutions. The peptoid polymers, peptoid-peptide hybrids, and cryoprotectant solutions provided herein are useful for making antifreeze solutions, frozen food products, and cosmetic care products. Also provided herein are methods for preserving a tissue, an organ, a cell, or a biological macromolecule using the compositions described herein.

Core Innovation

The disclosure concerns a peptoid polymer according to formula (I), including a tautomer thereof or a stereoisomer thereof, and peptoid polymer/peptoid-peptide hybrid compounds defined by a chemical structure and illustrated embodiments. The polymer includes substituent-defined repeating units with R1, R2, and R3 groups, and terminal groups X and Y that are independently selected or taken together to form a covalent bond. The substituent definitions include multiple optional substitution patterns, including hydroxyalkyl groups and optionally substituted cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl groups.

A central structural feature is that at least four instances of R1 are independently selected optionally substituted C1-18 hydroxyalkyl groups, and dependent features further refine the polymer by narrowing substituent choices or imposing quantitative constraints. The R3 substituent options include halogen, oxo, thioxo, —OH, —SH, amino, C1-8 alkyl, C1-8 hydroxyalkyl, C1-8 alkylamino, and C1-8 alkylthio, while R2 is independently selected from a defined set that also includes hydroxyalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and other groups. The polymer length, n, representing the number of monomers, is between 8 and 50.

The disclosure addresses preventing or reducing ice crystal formation during cooling and cryopreservation, including at sub-0 °C temperatures and in defined temperature ranges including about 0 °C to about -20 °C and about 0 °C to about -120 °C. The described peptoid compositions are presented as cryoprotectant solutions and as candidates for ice crystal formation reduction or inhibition, with functional claims tied to cryoprotection outcomes.

Claims Coverage

The provided material identifies an independent claim directed to the peptoid polymer of formula (I), including tautomers and stereoisomers, with explicit substituent sets for R1, R2, R3, and X and Y, and a polymer length constraint. The claim set further includes dependent refinements that narrow hydroxyalkyl substitution, constrain the monomer count, and tie the polymer to ice crystal inhibition and product/application scopes. In total, the consolidated coverage reflects five core inventive features at the independent-claim level.

Overall, the claims coverage centers on a peptoid polymer defined by formula (I) with explicit, independently selected substituent sets for R1, R2, R3, and X and Y, including a required hydroxyalkyl-containing R1 pattern and a polymer length n between 8 and 50. The provided material further ties the polymer to reducing or inhibiting ice crystal formation in a stated temperature interval and to cryoprotectant solution use.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications