Premelting-directed interfacial design of nanoshell-coated cells in directional freezing and thawing

Freezing interface interacting with soft cells is a core issue in cryopreservation. However, most of existing cryopreservation approaches face challenges such as complex processing and poor controllability. Herein we report a new, nanotechnology-based method to modulate interfacial interactions between ice and cells via the premelting theory. Through the interfacial design by controllably modifying biocompatible nanoshells on the surface of cells, the effective Hamaker constant between cells and ice can be modified. The thickness of premelted films between cells and ice is further regulated, and directional migration of coated cells occurs in a thermal gradient to achieve directional thawing of coated cells. The decreased mortality of freezing coated cells suggests the premelting modulation in freezing and thawing can effectively protect cells from mechanical damage of ice formation during freezing and ice recrystallization during thawing.