Spherulitic growth in protein solutions

Abstract

Lysozyme was chosen as a model system for investigation of spherulitic growth in protein solution. Solutions of various concentrations of lysozyme and sodium chloride were studied under an optical microscope using polarized light. Spherulites were observed in the liquid-liquid separation regime. Images at various stages during the crystal growth process are presented. In a separate set of experiments, it was demonstrated that the presence of foreign particles could promote spherulitic growth even without liquid-liquid separation.