DC7 – Developing new strategies to control crystal size distribution in scalable convection free systems

Explore the use of seeds in a convection free media, i.e. hydrogels, for the mass production of homogenous biomolecules crystals. Selected Phycobiliproteins will be studied. Specific objectives are:

1-Screen and optimise the crystallisation conditions to promote seeds growth while keeping seeds integrity/stability (DSC, TEM, SEM). After the definition of the proper crystallisation mixture (solvent; buffer; additives and precipitating agent), the composition will be optimised to promote seeds growth while minimising the crystallisation cocktail mixture (lowering the chemical impact).

2-Develop a method (i.e. ultrasounds, grinding with Teflon or zirconia beads) to produce biomolecules crystal seeds, in the ml scale, minimising protein denaturation and ensuring the production of a homogenous and narrow population of crystal sizes. 3-Identify the minimum compositional requirement (i.e., seed density and size) that ensure the scale-up of the seeding-batch-crystallisation method to produce narrow crystal size distributions.

LEC, IACT, CSIC, Spain


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