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Published on: March 31, 2022
Second-order nonlinear optical imaging of chiral crystals
David J Kissick1, Debbie Wanapun, Garth J Simpson
1Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA. gsimpson@purdue.edu
Summary
Second-order nonlinear optical imaging of chiral crystals (SONICC) offers high-resolution, background-free imaging for protein crystals. This technique aids in observing crystal growth and detecting specific crystalline forms, confirming growth theories.
Area of Science:
- Crystallography
- Nonlinear Optics
- Biophysics
Background:
- Second-order nonlinear optical imaging of chiral crystals (SONICC) is an emerging technique.
- It utilizes second harmonic generation signals for imaging and characterization.
- SONICC offers near-complete background suppression for enhanced imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of SONICC and its principles.
- To discuss recent biological applications of SONICC.
- To highlight SONICC's capabilities in crystal analysis.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing second harmonic generation for signal generation.
- Applying SONICC for high-resolution imaging of chiral crystals.
- Manual and automated analysis of SONICC images.
Main Results:
- SONICC enables precise detection of protein crystals.
- High-resolution imaging allows observation of nucleation and growth kinetics.
- SONICC detects metastable, homochiral amino acid forms, confirming Ostwald's rule.
Conclusions:
- SONICC is a powerful tool for chiral crystal imaging and characterization.
- Its selectivity and sensitivity make it valuable for various scientific fields.
- SONICC facilitates understanding of crystal formation processes.
