The European Research Council has awarded Ilja Voets with a Consolidator Grant to research the synthetic materials, inspired by antifreeze proteins, for application as cryopreservants. The study of how antifreeze proteins are able to inhibit ice growth, allowing organisms to survive subzero environment, has been ongoing for several years. Now, with the new funding, Prof. Voets aimes to emulate their properties using designer polyamides, with the ultimate goals of storing tissues and organs for longer periods of time at low temperatures, without frost damage. The announcement on the TU/e website can be found here.
