Assess whether engineered ice-binding proteins can reduce freeze-related damage and support post-thaw survival in embryo and oocyte cryopreservation workflows.
Vitrification has transformed IVF cryopreservation by minimising the initial ice formation associated with slower freezing methods. However, the warming phase can still represent a major source of injury for embryos and oocytes.
As vitrified material warms, devitrification can occur. This may trigger ice recrystallisation, where small ice crystals grow into larger structures that can damage membranes, disrupt cellular ultrastructure, and reduce post-thaw viability.
Current protocols rely heavily on cryoprotective agents to suppress this risk. While effective, high CPA loading can also introduce osmotic stress and chemical toxicity, particularly in large, water-rich cells such as oocytes.
IBP Ventures focuses on engineered ice-binding proteins that act directly at the ice-water interface, rather than relying solely on high bulk CPA concentrations.
Although vitrification avoids the large ice crystal formation associated with slower freezing methods, warming remains a critical stage in IVF cryopreservation. Embryos and oocytes can still be exposed to recrystallisation-related injury, osmotic stress, and viability loss during the freeze–thaw cycle.
For clinics and reproductive laboratories, even modest improvements in post-thaw survival, consistency, or workflow robustness can have practical clinical and operational value.
IBP Ventures offers defined feasibility pilots to assess whether engineered ice-binding proteins can improve performance in specific IVF cryopreservation workflows.
This page is focused specifically on IVF cryopreservation, but the same underlying challenge of freeze damage, recrystallisation, and post-thaw recovery also appears across other high-value preservation workflows.
Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation where post-thaw survival and warming-stage damage are critical constraints.
Sensitive therapeutic cells and formulations where freeze–thaw recovery, viability, and stability are commercially important.
Sample storage workflows where reduced preservation loss and improved consistency may be valuable.
Are you seeing viability loss, recovery issues, or warming-stage instability in your embryo or oocyte cryopreservation process?
We offer tightly scoped feasibility pilots to evaluate whether ice-binding proteins can improve performance in your specific IVF cryopreservation workflow.