Article
Crystallography
Wentao Yang, Yucong Liao, Qi Shi, Zhaoru Sun
Summary: Antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) are powerful inhibitors of ice recrystallization and have been widely studied. However, there is still controversy about the molecular mechanism of how they inhibit ice growth, particularly the group responsible for binding AFGPs to ice. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the atomistic details of AFGP8 binding to ice. The results show that AFGP8 can bind to ice through backbone dominant binding, disaccharide dominant binding, and weak binding. Hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic groups contribute equally to the binding and synergistically promote it. The work provides valuable insights into the ice growth inhibition mechanism of AFGP8, which can aid in the design of efficient cryoprotectants.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Nishaka William, Sophia Mangan, Rob N. Ben, Jason P. Acker
Summary: One of the key challenges in subzero storage is controlling ice nucleation or recrystallization. Nature provides examples of organisms that can sustain subphysiological temperatures for extended periods of time, and by studying their proteins, we now have access to compounds and materials for biopreservation applications. This research can synergize with other advancements in cryobiology, making it a timely topic for review.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Elizabeth A. Delesky, Luis F. Garcia, Aparna J. Lobo, Rebecca A. Mikofsky, Nicolas D. Dowdy, Jaqueline D. Wallat, Garret M. Miyake, Wil V. Srubar
Summary: Ice growth mitigation is a challenge for multiple industries. Inspired by ice-binding proteins (IBPs), researchers have developed a bioinspired polymer, pHPMA, that shows strong ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity at ultralow nanomolar concentrations. This study provides valuable insights into the synthesis and characterization of potent bioinspired materials that mimic the behavior of native IBPs.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fukai Xu, Jiunian Guan, Yumei Zhou, Ziwei Song, Yanping Shen, Yibo Liu, Xiaohui Jia, Baiyu Zhang, Ping Guo
Summary: This study is the first to investigate the effects of freeze-thaw (FT) and microplastics (MPs) on the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil aggregates. The results showed that FT increased the relative abundance of ARGs in different aggregates by promoting the growth of intI1 and ARG host bacteria. However, polyethylene MPs hindered this increase caused by FT. The study also revealed that FT, MPs, and their integration promoted the proliferation of human pathogenic bacteria in soil aggregates.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Shane D. Frazier, Aparna J. Lobo, Mohammad G. Matar, Wil V. Srubar
Summary: This study presents experimental evidence that specific molecular weights of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) are necessary to enhance the freeze-thaw resistance of portland cement paste. The enhancement is achieved through the interaction between biomimetic polymers like PVA and ice, rather than improved hydrophobicity or an adequately entrained air void system.
CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yimeng Chen, Wen Xiao, Guoliang Jia, Aidong Sun
Summary: The study found that CMC-Na can accelerate the nucleation process, shorten the phase transition time, and promote the formation of numerous distributed small ice crystals. A high concentration of CMC-Na can effectively inhibit the recrystallization process of ice crystals.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yuan Yuan, Madison Fomich, Vermont P. Dia, Tong Wang
Summary: The aim of this research was to enhance the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity of zein and gelatin hydrolysates (ZH and GH) by succinylation modification. Modified hydrolysates (SA modified ZH and OSA modified GH) decreased the average Feret's diameter of ice crystal from 50.2 μm to 28.8 μm and 29.5 μm, respectively. Succinylated samples also exhibited altered surface hydrophobicity, potentially contributing to their enhanced IRI activity. This study demonstrates that succinylation of food-derived protein hydrolysates can improve their IRI activity.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xu Chen, Xiaozhen Li, Fujia Yang, Jinhong Wu, Dan Huang, Jianlian Huang, Shaoyun Wang
Summary: The cryoprotective effects of antifreeze peptides from silver carp scales on freeze-thaw stability of surimi were investigated. Results showed that these peptides could improve the gel properties and water holding capacity of surimi by regulating ice crystal size.
Article
Biology
Audrey K. Gruneberg, Laurie A. Graham, Robert Eves, Prashant Agrawal, Richard D. Oleschuk, Peter L. Davies
Summary: Ice-binding proteins inhibit ice growth through surface adsorption, with different IBPs showing varying levels of ice recrystallization inhibition activity. Differences in IRI activity are seen between IBPs of different sizes and sources.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Naoki Arai, Ayako Fujiwara, Michiyo Wakuda, Toshihiro Fujimoto, Yuko Nambu, Toya Ishii, Kentaro Matsumiya, Yasuki Matsumura, Hidehisa Kawahara, Koji Ogino
Summary: The alkaline extract of Enoki mushroom has been found to inhibit ice crystal growth in frozen whipped creams, reducing quality changes during frozen storage. Whipped creams with high milk fat content are more prone to deterioration in flavor and texture during freezing, but adding Enoki mushroom extract can help ameliorate these issues.
JOURNAL OF FOOD ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Weiwen Hua, Yuanguang Wang, Cun-Yue Guo, Jianjun Wang, Songjun Li, Li Guo
Summary: The study shows that peptoids with different side chains can significantly inhibit ice recrystallization and reduce crystal grain size, without thermal hysteresis. Peptoids with methyl, ethyl, and amino groups on side chains can modulate ice crystal shape, while peptoids bearing hydroxyl and ethyl groups decrease ice growth rate the most.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS AND MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aindrila Indra, Mangesh Bhendale, Jayant K. Singh
Summary: This study uses molecular dynamics to investigate the role of concentration, degree of supercooling, degree of polymerization, and amphiphilicity of PVA and PVA-like polymers on the homogeneous nucleation of water in dilute polymeric solutions. The results suggest that an increase in solute concentration decreases the nucleation rate of water, contradicting previous simulation studies.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abirami Baskaran, Manigundan Kaari, Gopikrishnan Venugopal, Radhakrishnan Manikkam, Jerrine Joseph, Parli Bhaskar
Summary: Antifreeze proteins are produced by organisms to adapt to extreme cold environments, protecting cells from ice crystal formation by lowering the freezing point of body fluids. These proteins, with diverse structures, modify ice crystal growth to thrive in cold conditions. Antifreeze proteins have a wide range of applications in industry, biomedicine, and food storage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Changhong Chen, Min Liu, Xiaojun Wu, Qi Yang, Fanglian Yao, Hong Zhang, Junjie Li
Summary: Understanding the antifreeze activity is crucial for developing new antifreeze agents. Previous studies have mainly focused on the ice binding affinity of additive molecules but have neglected their influence on the hydrogen bonding network of ice. In this study, we investigate the ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity of two structurally similar molecules, histidine (His) and phenylalanine (Phe), and explore the origin of their difference through molecular dynamics simulation. We propose a method to evaluate the order of the hydrogen bonding network, which allows us to interpret the IRI activity of His and Phe and quantify the influence of different groups on the hydrogen bonding network.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Xu Chen, Jinhong Wu, Xixi Cai, Shaoyun Wang
Summary: Antifreeze peptides (AFPs) as ice crystal growth inhibitors have great potential in various applications, and their production, evaluation, and application methods are comprehensively reviewed. Studies have shown that AFPs have high potential in the field of frozen foods, providing inspiration for further research and applications in food science and food nutrition.
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND FOOD SAFETY
(2021)