Research Project 1: Freezing-Induced Phase Separation and Spatial Microheterogeneity in Protein Solutions

Developing new methods of preserving biospecimens and technology to improve biospecimen quality.

Freezing of water induces solute rejection, creating regions of high solute concentration. Freezing-induced partitioning of the solution into different thermodynamic phases (an ice phase and a freeze-concentrated liquid phase) induces segregation of the protein, exposing it to different microenvironmental conditions within the same medium. The local microenvironment that the protein is exposed to continues to evolve as the medium is cooled further and eutectic or crystalline phases form or the FCL region vitrifies.

We utilize 3-D Raman Microspectroscopy to determine microheterogeneity in frozen protein solutions to detect whether in a frozen medium the protein is even "seeing" the cryoprotectant to benefit from its protection (Dong, et al., J. Phys. Chem. B, 2009, 113 (30), pp 10081-1087).

To learn more, visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jp809710d.