The expanding horizons of antifreeze proteins from food science to multidisciplinary technological innovations

Abstract

Background

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) exhibit unique capabilities in modulating ice crystal formation, offering significant potential for applications in food preservation, cryopreservation, and biomedical fields. However, their widespread industrial adoption faces challenges including suboptimal molecular structures, insufficient production efficiency, and undefined safety protocols.

Scope and objective

This review advances beyond traditional single-species analyses by systematically dissecting AFP structural-functional diversities through cross-species comparisons, while integrating protein engineering, synthetic biology, and risk assessment to establish a comprehensive technical framework for industrial translation. Additionally, this review examines the promising yet underexplored applications of AFPs in food texture engineering, cellular agriculture, and biomedical innovations. By systematically integrating fundamental principles, biotechnological advancements, and cutting-edge applications, it provides actionable insights for translating AFP research into practical industrial solutions.

Key findings and conclusions

The remarkable ice-binding properties of AFPs stem from their unique molecular architecture, which has been successfully enhanced through protein engineering strategies including multimerization to boost activity fiftyfold. These engineered proteins have opened new possibilities across multiple disciplines, from precisely controlled drug delivery systems that respond to temperature changes to transformative applications in food technology such as light-responsive texture modification. Despite these advances, significant hurdles remain in bringing these innovations to industrial scale, particularly regarding the establishment of safety assessment standards and overcoming production limitations. Moving forward, bridging these gaps between laboratory research and commercial implementation will be crucial for unlocking the full potential of AFP technologies across their diverse range of applications.