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Related Concept Videos

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization01:25

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

Crystallization is a phase transformation process in which crystals are precipitated from a supersaturated solution or formed from other sources. During crystallization, atoms or molecules arrange themselves into a well-defined, rigid crystal lattice to minimize energy.
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent – the...
Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria01:10

Recrystallization: Solid–Solution Equilibria

Recrystallization is a purification technique used to separate impurities from solid compounds. In this technique, no chemical reactions occur. Instead, it exploits physical properties only, specifically, the solubility differences between the desired compound and impurities, either at a single temperature or at different temperatures, and under other selected conditions. The solid-solution equilibrium (solubility equilibrium) of each component in the solution represents a binary phase...
Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
Microtubule Formation01:23

Microtubule Formation

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo continuous assembly and disassembly. They originate from specialized multi-protein complexes known as microtubule organizing centers or MTOCs. Within the MTOC, the point of origin of the microtubule is known as the minus end, while the end radiating outward is the plus end. Microtubules serve two primary functions — the organization of spindle complexes to separate sister chromatids during mitotic or meiotic cell division and the formation of...
The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...

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Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments
09:52

Optimizing the Growth of Endothiapepsin Crystals for Serial Crystallography Experiments

Published on: February 4, 2021

Nucleation.

Peter G Vekilov1

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Chemistry, University of Houston, Houston Texas, 77204-4004, USA.

Crystal Growth & Design
|December 7, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Controlling crystal nucleation in solution is key for material properties. Recent advances reveal a two-step nucleation mechanism and the solution-crystal spinodal, offering new control strategies.

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Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Physical Chemistry
  • Materials Science
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Crystal nucleation is fundamental to materials science and industry.
  • Controlling nucleation impacts crystal size, perfection, and polymorphism.
  • Understanding solution crystallization is vital for chemical and pharmaceutical processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism of crystal nucleation in solution.
  • To explain discrepancies between theoretical and observed nucleation rates.
  • To explore the role of the solution-crystal spinodal in nucleation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent advances in nucleation theory.
  • Application of the two-step nucleation mechanism.
  • Analysis of the solution-crystal spinodal concept.

Main Results:

  • The two-step nucleation mechanism explains crystal formation via metastable liquid clusters.
  • This mechanism applies to proteins, small molecules, colloids, polymers, and biominerals.
  • The solution-crystal spinodal clarifies heterogeneous nucleation and polymorph selection.

Conclusions:

  • The two-step mechanism and solution-crystal spinodal provide a unified framework for nucleation.
  • These concepts offer powerful tools for controlling crystallization by tuning thermodynamic parameters.
  • Advances enhance understanding and control of crystallization in diverse systems.