Screening and crystallization plates for manual and high-throughput protein crystal growth
AssigneeCornell Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsRobert E. Thorne, Viatcheslav Berejnov, Yevgeniy Kalinin
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a crystallization and screening plate comprises a plurality of cells open at a top and a bottom, a frame that defines the cells in the plate, and at least two films. The first film seals a top of the plate and the second film seals a bottom of the plate. At least one of the films is patterned to strongly pin the contact lines of drops dispensed onto it, fixing their position and shape. The present invention also includes methods and other devices for manual and high-throughput protein crystal growth.
Claims49
A screening and crystallization plate for manual and high-throughput biological and organic crystal growth comprising:
- a plurality of cells open at a top and a bottom;
- a frame that defines the cells in the plate;
- at least one first film or layer sealing a bottom of the plate;
- at least one second film sized to seal the a top of the plate;
- and
- at least one sealer for sealing the second film to the plate after at least one liquid drop is dispensed on the first film or layer;
- wherein the first film or layer is patterned to produce strong pinning at at least one location on the film or layer of at least one contact line of the at least one liquid drop to be dispensed onto the first film or layer.
A crystallization apparatus comprising:
- a crystallization plate designed for use with at least one coverslip;
- and
- at least one coverslip comprising at least one patterned area and at least one unpatterned area such that the patterned area produces stronger contact line pinning of at least one liquid drop at at least one location on the coverslip than on an unpatterned coverslip;
- wherein the coverslip is a medium to hold the drop.
A plate for biological research, comprising:
- a plurality of cells open at a top and a bottom;
- a frame that defines the cells in the plate;
- at least one first film or layer sealing a bottom of the plate;
- at least one second film sized to seal a top of the plate;
- and
- at least one sealer for sealing the second film to the plate after at least one liquid drop is dispensed on the first film or layer;
- wherein the first film or layer is patterned to produce strong pinning at at least one location on the film or layer of at least one contact line of the at least one liquid drop dispensed onto the first film or layer.
A screening and crystallization plate for manual and high-throughput biological and organic crystal growth comprising:
- a plurality of cells open at a top and a bottom;
- a frame that defines the cells in the plate;
- and
- at least one film or layer sealing a bottom of the plate;
- wherein the film or layer is patterned to produce strong pinning at at least one location on the film or layer of at least one contact line of at least one liquid drop dispensed onto the film or layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.