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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Preparation of Macroporous Epitaxial Quartz Films on Silicon by Chemical Solution Deposition
Published on: December 21, 2015
Crystallization of macromolecules in silica gels
R Cudney1, S Patel, A McPherson
1University of California Riverside, Department of Biochemistry, 92521, USA.
Abstract:
Procedures are described for the crystallization of proteins, nucleic acids and viruses in a silica-gel matrix using otherwise standard reagents and conditions. Methods are given based on both vapor diffusion in a sitting drop and liquid-liquid diffusion. Using a variety of macromolecules our results suggest that the gel matrix suppresses nucleation, reduces the rate of growth, and generally leads to larger, higher-quality crystals of enhanced stability. Presumably these effects arise from the decreased mobility of the macromolecules and their flux at the crystal surface during growth.
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