Applications of thin‐film sandwich crystallization platforms. Issue 4 (1st April 2016) - Axford, Danny
Abstract : Crystallization via sandwiches of thin polymer films is presented and discussed. Abstract : Examples are shown of protein crystallization in, and data collection from, solutions sandwiched between thin polymer films using vapour‐diffusion and batch methods. The crystallization platform is optimal for both visualization and in situ data collection, with the need for traditional harvesting being eliminated. In wells constructed from the thinnest plastic and with a minimum of aqueous liquid, flash‐cooling to 100 K is possible without significant ice formation and without any degradation in crystal quality. The approach is simple; it utilizes low‐cost consumables but yields high‐quality data with minimal sample intervention and, with the very low levels of background X‐ray scatter that are observed, is optimal for microcrystals.