Use of Cross-Linked Poly(ethylene glycol)-Based Hydrogels for Protein Crystallization

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels are highly biocompatible materials extensively used for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, controlled drug release, and tissue engineering. In this work, PEG cross-linked hydrogels, synthesized under various conditions, were used to grow lysozyme crystals by the counterdiffusion technique. Crystallization experiments were conducted using a three-layer arrangement. Results demonstrated that PEG fibers were incorporated within lysozyme crystals controlling the final crystal shape. PEG hydrogels also induced the nucleation of lysozyme crystals to a higher extent than agarose. PEG hydrogels can also be used at higher concentrations (20-50% w/w) as a separation chamber (plug) in counterdiffusion experiments. In this case, PEG hydrogels control the diffusion of the crystallization agent and therefore may be used to tailor the supersaturation to fine-tune crystal size. As an example, insulin crystals were grown in 10% (w/w) PEG hydrogel. The resulting crystals were of an approximate size of 500 μm.