biostudies-literaturePesenti TChina Scholarship CouncilEuropean Research CouncilRoyal Society889-894https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9301905biostudies-literatureUnknown11(7)Macromolecular cryoprotectants based on polyampholytes are showing promise as supplemental cryoprotectants alongside conventional DMSO-based freezing. Here we exploit radical ring-opening (ter)polymerization to access ester-containing cryoprotective polyampholytes, which were shown to be degradable. Using a challenging cell monolayer cryopreservation model, the degradable polyampholytes were found to enhance post-thaw recovery when supplemented into DMSO. This demonstrates that degradable macromolecular cryoprotectants can be developed for application in biotechnology and biomedicine.ACS macro lettersDegradable Polyampholytes from Radical Ring-Opening Copolymerization Enhance Cellular Cryopreservation.PMC9301905866056191037Pesenti TNicolas JTomas RMFGonzalez-Martinez NGibson MIZhu CfalseDegradable Polyampholytes from Radical Ring-Opening Copolymerization Enhance Cellular Cryopreservation.Macromolecular cryoprotectants based on polyampholytes are showing promise as supplemental cryoprotectants alongside conventional DMSO-based freezing. Here we exploit radical ring-opening (ter)polymerization to access ester-containing cryoprotective polyampholytes, which were shown to be degradable. Using a challenging cell monolayer cryopreservation model, the degradable polyampholytes were found to enhance post-thaw recovery when supplemented into DMSO. This demonstrates that degradable macromolecular cryoprotectants can be developed for application in biotechnology and biomedicine.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jul2025-04-04T18:37:15.152Z2025-02-19T03:52:42.96ZS-EPMC93019053576658510.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00298