Use of super-water-repellent fractal surfaces in the crystallization of macromolecules

The effect of fractal surfaces on protein crystallization has been investigated. A super-water-repellent fractal surface consisting of alkylketene dimers was formed on microscope cover slips. Crystallization experiments with hen egg-white lysozyme using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method have been undertaken on the fractal and conventionally siliconized surfaces. The size of the crystals obtained on the fractal surface is significantly larger than on the conventionally siliconized surface. The number of crystals on the fractal surface is markedly smaller than on the conventionally siliconized surface. The results clearly indicate that the fractal surface is very effective and promising in the crystallization of macromolecules using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method.