Synthetic antifreeze protein could revolutionize food and drug storage
Researchers develop synthetic antifreeze protein to prevent ice crystals in food and drugs.
Why it matters
- Prevents ice crystal damage in frozen foods and drugs.
- Synthetic version is scalable and non-toxic.
By the numbers
- Ice cream successfully chilled to -4°F.
- Anti-cancer drug Trastuzumab survived temperatures down to -323°F.
The big picture
- Extends shelf life of frozen foods.
- Improves storage and transport of biologics.
What they're saying
- Potential applications beyond food and drugs, like deicing roads.
- Technology is patent pending; startup Lontra Bio LLC aims to commercialize.
Caveats
- Still in research phase; commercialization pending.