Tardigrade Proteins Inspire New Method to Preserve Red Blood Cells

Up to 89 percent of mouse red blood cells recovered fully after being frozen using a new technique that adapts proteins from tardigrades, according to findings published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces and detailed by News-Medical. That recovery rate outpaces the roughly 82 percent success rate achieved by traditional freezing methods that rely on glycerol. Researchers developed the strategy to improve how biological materials are stored, offering a potential path forward for preserving rare blood types over long periods.

How Tardigrade Proteins Protect Frozen Cells

Tardigrades, also frequently called water bears, survive extreme environments like freezing temperatures, severe dehydration, and the vacuum of space by utilizing specialized proteins. Researchers Hui Yang, Leming Sun, and their colleagues focused specifically on cytosolic abundant heat-soluble proteins, known as CAHS proteins, which help the microscopic animals endure those harsh conditions. Instead of deploying a full-length CAHS protein, the research team determined that a specific section of the protein provided the desired protective effect against cellular damage.

When scientists combined this protein fragment with trehalose—a sugar commonly utilized to stabilize cell membranes and reduce freezer burn in commercial foods—the mixture fundamentally changed how ice formed and melted at low temperatures. Newswise notes that the two components shielded the cells from damage before they were frozen in liquid nitrogen. After the thawing process, the CAHS-trehalose mixture can be washed away easily via centrifugation, solving a major hurdle associated with conventional preservation agents.

Transfusion Tests in Anemic Mice

UA.News reports that the research team tested the biocompatibility of the red blood cells after freezing, thawing, and washing them to ensure clinical safety. When scientists administered a transfusion of this cryopreserved blood into mice suffering from anemia, the procedure significantly improved the animals’ red blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels. Furthermore, the transfusions did not trigger an inflammatory response in the recipients, establishing baseline biological compatibility for the preserved cells.

Standard blood cryopreservation typically relies on glycerol to prevent ice crystal formation during long-term storage. However, glycerol requires removal prior to an actual transfusion, and that necessary wash process frequently damages the fragile blood cells. The new tardigrade-inspired method avoids those complications while delivering a higher overall cell recovery rate than glycerol alone, according to comparative data highlighted by News-Medical.

Future Research and Funding Support

Following the successful animal trials, the research team aims to refine cryopreservation strategies for broader applications. Investigators hope the approach will eventually yield protective methods that allow blood products to function safely at room temperature.

This study was our first attempt to translate a lesson from an extraordinarily resilient organism into a practical cell-preservation strategy.

Leming Sun

Sun added that continued development could simplify post-thawing laboratory procedures, eliminate concerns tied to residual glycerol toxicity, and better maintain the structural quality of stored blood. Financial backing for the project came from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, and the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China.