Advances in cryostructures and their applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical products

Macroporous-interconnected cryostructures are prepared via a cryo-process, where polymerization and internal crosslinking are primarily conducted at the sub-freezing temperature of the medium. Due to their unique and desirable properties, the potential of cryostructures has been examined in tissue engineering, cancer research, drug delivery, and sensors/biosensors. The macroporous cryostructures assist in trafficking cells, and the interconnected macropores provide a favorable environment for attaching cells during transplantation. These properties make such structures a great candidate for the preparation of three-dimensional (3D) systems suitable for the delivery of drugs, cell culture and tissue engineering, successive production of biomolecules, and purification of macromolecules such as proteins. Cryostructures have also been studied to improve the physical, chemical, mechanical, and release properties of controlled-release pharmaceutical dosage forms. In this review, we provide deep insights into the preparation and characterization of 3D cryostructures, discuss the factors affecting their properties, and elaborate on their contemporary biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.