Patent Title:
Methods and devices for high throughput crystallization
Assignee:
Parallel Synthesis Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Haushalter, Xiao-Dong Sun
Patent:
Summary related to Ultrasonic Spray Drying for Crystallization Photoresist:
Crystallization Photoresist (PR) apparatus and methods which allow for fast screening and determination of protein crystallization conditions with small protein quantities and rapid crystallization. The apparatus comprise a first region comprising a first nucleation catalyst material and a second region comprising a second nucleation catalyst material, with the first and second regions positioned adjacent to each other and configured to support at least one crystal, and with the first region having a variation in a nucleation property of the first nucleation catalyst material in the first region.
The apparatus of the invention may be prepared using an ultrasonic spray dry apparatus. This co-spray dry apparatus uses a combination of ultrasonic nebulization and spray drying techniques as a highly versatile, low temperature synthetic route for generation of heterogeneous nucleation libraries. The co-spray dry apparatus produces a fine, collimated spray consisting of droplets centered around about 10-20μ in size at room temperature, with the droplets directed onto a warm substrate whereon rapid evaporation leaves a thin film of the solute from the droplets. The spray mist and/or droplets are generated where liquid is introduced into a Titanium alloy horn which is driven by surrounding piezoelectric transducers. Introduction of about 1 watt of power at an ultrasonic frequency of around 100-200 kHz to the transducers completely nebulizes flow volumes (delivered by syringe pumps) between 0.1 and 5 mL/min. A focusing air shroud shapes and collimates the spray to the desired geometry.
