title: Automating the application of smart materials for protein crystallization.
abstract: The fabrication and validation of the first semi-liquid nonprotein nucleating agent to be administered automatically to crystallization trials is reported. This research builds upon prior demonstration of the suitability of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs; known as `smart materials') for inducing protein crystal growth. Modified MIPs of altered texture suitable for high-throughput trials are demonstrated to improve crystal quality and to increase the probability of success when screening for suitable crystallization conditions. The application of these materials is simple, time-efficient and will provide a potent tool for structural biologists embarking on crystallization trials.
authors.affiliation: Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England.
authors.forename: Sahir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.affiliation: Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England.
authors.forename: Lata
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Govada
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, England.
authors.forename: Hazim F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: El-Sharif
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, England.
authors.forename: Subrayal M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, England.
authors.forename: Naomi E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Chayen
mesh_terms: D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers
keywords: molecularly imprinted polymers; protein crystallization; smart materials