"Naomi's Nucleant"

High quality protein crystals are required for efficient and accurate protein structure determination by X-ray diffraction. There is a current requirement for robust and reproducible methods for producing such crystals, and to tackle the issue of nucleation that determines crystal quality. In collaboration with other researchers, Prof. Naomi Chayen has developed novel methods for efficient protein crystallisation using Bioglass – a material used in bone regeneration research – to provide a scaffold in which to produce high-quality protein crystals.

This work has great impact in the context of rational drug design has produced a product - ‘Naomi’s Nucleant’ - sold by Molecular Dimensions under licence from Imperial Innovations.