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Elizebath D, Vedhanarayanan B, Raj A, Sudarsanakumar C, Lin TW, Praveen VK. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Mediated Formation of Chiral 2D Crystalline Nanosheets of a Co-Assembled System. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2403438. [PMID: 38978442 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The role of macromolecule-macromolecule and macromolecule-H2O interactions and the resulting perturbation of the H-bonded network of H2O in the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) process of biopolymers are well-known. However, the potential of the hydrated state of supramolecular structures (non-covalent analogs of macromolecules) of synthetic molecules is not widely recognized for playing a similar role in the LLPS process. Herein, LLPS occurred during the co-assembly of hydrated supramolecular vesicles (bolaamphiphile, BA1) with a net positive charge (zeta potential, ζ = +60 ± 2 mV) and a dianionic chiral molecule (disodium l-[+]-tartrate) is reported. As inferred from cryo-transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the LLPS-formed droplets serve as the nucleation precursors, dictating the structure and properties of the co-assembly. The co-assembled structure formed by LLPS effectively integrates the counter anion's asymmetry, resulting in the formation of ultrathin free-standing, chiral 2D crystalline sheets. The significance of the hydrated state of supramolecular structures in influencing LLPS is unraveled through studies extended to a less hydrated supramolecular structure of a comparable system (BA2). The role of LLPS in modulating the hydrophobic interaction in water paves the way for the creation of advanced functional materials in an aqueous environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drishya Elizebath
- Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Balaraman Vedhanarayanan
- Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India
- Department of Chemistry, Tunghai University, No.1727, Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung City, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Aparna Raj
- School of Pure and Applied Physics, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India
| | - C Sudarsanakumar
- School of Pure and Applied Physics, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India
| | - Tsung-Wu Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Tunghai University, No.1727, Section 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung City, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Vakayil K Praveen
- Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
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Yan Y, Wang J, Lu X, Yuan W, Zhang X. Nucleation-Supersaturation Dual-Drive Crystallization Strategy Enables Efficient Protein Crystallization. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307924. [PMID: 38072771 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
A rational crystallization strategy is essential to obtain high-quality protein crystals, yet the established methods suffer from different limitations arising from the single regulation on either nucleation or supersaturation. Herein, a nucleation-supersaturation dual-driven crystallization (DDC) strategy that realizes synergistic regulation of heterogeneous nucleation sites and solution supersaturation based on dual surface and confinement effects for efficient protein crystallization is reported. This strategy relies on a p(PEGDA-co-DMAA) hydrogel template with pre-filled NaCl under designed concentrations. Once dropping hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) protein solution on the hydrogel, the wrinkled surface provides numerous nucleation sites, while the internal structure regulates the solution supersaturation in the crystallization region through diffusion. Finally, DDC strategy can create high-quality HEWL crystals with large sizes (100-300 µm), well-defined morphologies (hexagon and tetragon), and a significantly accelerated nucleation time (9-12 times faster than that achieved using the conventional hanging drop method). It also performs well at wider protein concentrations (10-50 mg mL-1) and categories (e.g., achieving fast crystallization and large-size crystals of trypsin), therefore demonstrating clear advantages and great potential for efficiently fabricating protein crystals desirable for diverse applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhen Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Junyou Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Multiphase Materials Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xuechun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Weikang Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
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Nucleation of glucose isomerase protein crystals in a nonclassical disguise: The role of crystalline precursors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2108674119. [PMID: 35101915 PMCID: PMC8851477 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2108674119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of proteins to self-assemble into complex, hierarchical structures has been the inspiration for the bottom-up design of a class of biomaterials with proteins as their building blocks. The earliest stages of formation often involve the passing of an activation barrier under the form of nucleus formation, a quaternary protein complex that templates incoming molecules to proper registry. For protein crystallization, the consensus has emerged that the fastest route toward a nucleus follows a winding path: first, densification, followed by symmetry formation. In this contribution, we show that this need not be the case for the protein glucose isomerase, which seems to follow the simplest path to a nucleus, making crystalline clusters from the earliest detectable beginnings. Protein crystallization is an astounding feat of nature. Even though proteins are large, anisotropic molecules with complex, heterogeneous surfaces, they can spontaneously group into two- and three-dimensional arrays with high precision. And yet, the biggest hurdle in this assembly process, the formation of a nucleus, is still poorly understood. In recent years, the two-step nucleation model has emerged as the consensus on the subject, but it still awaits extensive experimental verification. Here, we set out to reconstruct the nucleation pathway of the candidate protein glucose isomerase (GI), for which there have been indications that it may follow a two-step nucleation pathway under certain conditions. We find that the precursor phase present during the early stages of the reaction process is nanoscopic crystallites that have lattice symmetry equivalent to the mature crystals found at the end of a crystallization experiment. Our observations underscore the need for experimental data at a lattice-resolving resolution on other proteins so that a general picture of protein crystal nucleation can be formed.
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Computational study of metformin hydrochloride nucleation in hydroxylic solvents: Experimental kinetics and DFT simulation. Int J Pharm 2022; 616:121517. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Jain R, Mallette AJ, Rimer JD. Controlling Nucleation Pathways in Zeolite Crystallization: Seeding Conceptual Methodologies for Advanced Materials Design. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:21446-21460. [PMID: 34914871 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c11014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A core objective of synthesizing zeolites for widespread applications is to produce materials with properties and corresponding performances that exceed conventional counterparts. This places an impetus on elucidating and controlling processes of crystallization where one of the most critical design criteria is the ability to prepare zeolite crystals with ultrasmall dimensions to mitigate the deleterious effects of mass transport limitations. At the most fundamental level, this requires a comprehensive understanding of nucleation to address this ubiquitous materials gap. This Perspective highlights recent methodologies to alter zeolite nucleation by using seed-assisted protocols and the exploitation of interzeolite transformations to design advanced materials. Introduction of crystalline seeds in complex growth media used to synthesize zeolites can have wide-ranging effects on the physicochemical properties of the final product. Here we discuss the diverse pathways of zeolite nucleation, recent breakthroughs in seed-assisted syntheses of nanosized and hierarchical materials, and shortcomings for developing generalized guidelines to predict synthesis outcomes. We offer a critical analysis of state-of-the-art approaches to tailor zeolite crystallization wherein we conceptualize whether parallels between network theory and zeolite synthesis can be instrumental for translating key findings of individual discoveries across a broader set of zeolite crystal structures and/or synthesis conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishabh Jain
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Adam J Mallette
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Rimer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, United States
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Hoffmann WH, Mulkerns NMC, Hall SR, Gersen H. Laser-induced convection shifts size distributions in nanoparticle tracking analysis. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:5694-5702. [PMID: 34604699 PMCID: PMC8478152 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00572c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This work discusses the effects of increasing laser power on the size data derived from NTA for particles of known size and scatterers in solutions of flufenamic acid in ethanol. We find that whilst a higher laser power reveals more particles as expected, their residence time changes due to laser-induced convection. This reduced residence time decreases the number of tracks available for individual particle size determination, shifting the size distribution to smaller values. This problem is overcome by using a shutter to inhibit the development of convection currents, increasing particle residence time and reducing the error on the size distribution. The detailed understanding of laser-induced convection permits more robust size characterisation of mesoscopic organic clusters, which play a key role in two-step nucleation theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Hoffmann
- H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TL UK
- Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TL UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Niall M C Mulkerns
- H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TL UK
- Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TL UK
| | - Simon R Hall
- Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TL UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Henkjan Gersen
- H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TL UK
- Bristol Centre for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Bristol Tyndall Avenue Bristol BS8 1TL UK
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Blow KE, Quigley D, Sosso GC. The seven deadly sins: When computing crystal nucleation rates, the devil is in the details. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:040901. [PMID: 34340373 DOI: 10.1063/5.0055248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of crystals has proven to be one of the most challenging phase transformations to quantitatively model-let alone to actually understand-be it by means of the latest experimental technique or the full arsenal of enhanced sampling approaches at our disposal. One of the most crucial quantities involved with the crystallization process is the nucleation rate, a single elusive number that is supposed to quantify the average probability for a nucleus of critical size to occur within a certain volume and time span. A substantial amount of effort has been devoted to attempt a connection between the crystal nucleation rates computed by means of atomistic simulations and their experimentally measured counterparts. Sadly, this endeavor almost invariably fails to some extent, with the venerable classical nucleation theory typically blamed as the main culprit. Here, we review some of the recent advances in the field, focusing on a number of perhaps more subtle details that are sometimes overlooked when computing nucleation rates. We believe it is important for the community to be aware of the full impact of aspects, such as finite size effects and slow dynamics, that often introduce inconspicuous and yet non-negligible sources of uncertainty into our simulations. In fact, it is key to obtain robust and reproducible trends to be leveraged so as to shed new light on the kinetics of a process, that of crystal nucleation, which is involved into countless practical applications, from the formulation of pharmaceutical drugs to the manufacturing of nano-electronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina E Blow
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - David Quigley
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriele C Sosso
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
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Tsarfati Y, Biran I, Wiedenbeck E, Houben L, Cölfen H, Rybtchinski B. Continuum Crystallization Model Derived from Pharmaceutical Crystallization Mechanisms. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2021; 7:900-908. [PMID: 34079905 PMCID: PMC8161475 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The crystallization mechanisms of organic molecules in solution are not well-understood. The mechanistic scenarios where crystalline order evolves directly from the molecularly dissolved state ("classical") and from initially formed amorphous intermediates ("nonclassical") are suggested and debated. Here, we studied crystallization mechanisms of two widely used analgesics, ibuprofen (IbuH) and etoricoxib (ETO), using direct cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) imaging. In the IbuH case, parallel crystallization pathways involved diverse phases of high and low density, in which the instantaneous formation of final crystalline order was observed. ETO crystallization started from well-defined round-shaped amorphous intermediates that gradually evolved into crystals. This mechanistic diversity is rationalized by introducing a continuum crystallization paradigm: order evolution depends on ordering in the initially formed intermediates and efficiency of molecular rearrangements within them, and there is a continuum of states related to the initial order and rearrangement rates. This model provides a unified view of crystallization mechanisms, encompassing classical and nonclassical pictures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Tsarfati
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science and Department of
Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Idan Biran
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science and Department of
Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Eduard Wiedenbeck
- Physical
Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University
of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Lothar Houben
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science and Department of
Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Helmut Cölfen
- Physical
Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University
of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Boris Rybtchinski
- Department
of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science and Department of
Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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