Advances in Antifreeze Molecules: From Design and Mechanisms to Applications

Freezing can cause serious hazards in various fields, such as cryoinjury in cell and organ cryopreservation, food quality deterioration, and ice accretion on surfaces including energy facilities (wind turbines, overhead transmission lines, and towers), aircraft, etc., causing serious equipment damages and economic losses. To alleviate these problems, antifreeze molecules have attracted significant attention and have been applied extensively in cryopreservation and anti-icing coatings. In this review, the progress on antifreeze molecules is summarized and discussed, including their classifications, mechanisms, and applications. The antifreeze molecules are divided into natural and artificial molecules, and their characteristics are introduced. Moreover, their antifreeze mechanisms are comprehensively outlined involving depression of freezing points, dynamic ice shaping, and ice recrystallization inhibition. Then, the representative applications in cryobiology, anti-icing surfaces, food technology, and agriculture are also summarized and discussed. Finally, the challenges and development prospects of antifreeze molecules are further provided.