When condensed matter physics meets biology: Does superhydrophobicity benefiting the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa?

With the increasing demand in regenerative and reproductive medicine for successful conservation of living matter, the need of reliable platform in cell banking seems inevitable. Whilst the cells storage at cryogenic temperatures is a well-developed method, far less is known about the efficiency of nanotechnology in cryogenics. The primary objective of this study is to represent the first of its kind experimental results related to cryopreservation of human spermatozoa by means of superhydrophobic carbon soot coatings. The inclusion of soot-based water repellent interface during the freezing and thawing of human semen minimizes the solid-liquid interfacial area, retards the heat transfer rate and promotes the recovery of up to 80% of initial motility of post-thaw sperm cells. Our discoveries reveal a fundamentally new and exciting direction of development of cryopreservation technologies in the battle against painful biopsies and repetitive surgeries.