| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/Z533646/1 |
| Title: |
Sustainable Bio-Sourced Macromolecular Cryoprotectants |
| Principal Investigator: |
Gibson, Professor MI |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Manchester, The |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research TFS |
| Starts: |
01 November 2024 |
Ends: |
31 October 2028 |
Value (£): |
569,371
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Chemical Biology |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
ce formation and growth is a problem wherever sub-zero temperatures exist, requiring antifreeze/cryoprotectants, spanning in aerospace, renewable energy, vaccine delivery, biomedical research and the food industry. Anti-icing strategies currently deploy unsustainable practices, using large volumes of solvents to di-ice planes, to using methane-gas burners to prevent vineyards from freezing, to emerging cell-based therapies which urgently need advanced cryoprotectants to supplement DMSO-based freezing methods. Ice binding proteins have shown potential to transform how low-temperatures are mitigated in a range of academic and industrial challenge areas, but are simply not available at scale, nor a practical price point. Current polymeric mimics of IBPs have been shown to be potent, but are obtained by unsustainable methods, and are not degradable.
In this proposal we will address the challenge of how to deploy the favourable properties of ice binding proteins, but using sustainable and degradable synthetic polymer mimics. Synthetic poly(amino acid) materials expertise at RCSI will be combined with UoM expertise in biomacromolecular mimics of ice binding proteins and polymer-sustainability, to discover the next generation of polymeric 'antifreeze' agents that are resorbable and/or degrade in the environment. Our goal is to first understand the structural requirements to retain ice recognition/modulation in chemically-simple poly(amino acids). We will then develop sustainable strategies for their upscaling focussed on both production by step-growth synthesis (with integrated life cycle analysis) as well as end of life (degradation): a cradle to grave, not cradle to gate approach.
We will deliver future environmental and industrial impact by showing their function as anti-icing agents and the storage of cell-based therapies and quantitative, critical, life cycle analysis considerations. We will also upskill the researchers with critical, and authentic, sustainability skills.
Our specific objectives are:
1. Use N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) polymerisation as a discovery tool to obtain precision poly(amino acid)s based on polyproline (PP) II and alpha helices.
2. Map the polymer/ice binding activity relationships to identify core structural motifs which are essential to activity.
- Show biodegradation under hydrolytic, microbial and in vivo relevant conditions, to identify the material (from Obj. II) which is most ideal for diverse environments of release.
1. Demonstrate scalable synthesis of the most active materials using step-growth/condensation polymerisation, which is an industrially relevant method, used for e.g. Nylon preparation
2. Use polymers in model application areas of cellular cryopreservation, anti-icing and reduced ice-adhesion application areas.
3. Quantify impacts through life cycle analysis of the materials to understand, and mitigate, their impact.
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
http://www.man.ac.uk |