Universality of Hair as a Nucleant: Exploring the Effects of Surface Chemistry and Topography.

ABSTRACT: The ability to control crystal nucleation through the simple addition of a nucleating agent (nucleant) is desirable for a huge range of applications. However, effective nucleating agents are known for only a small number of systems, and many questions remain about the mechanisms by which they operate. Here, we explore the features that make an effective nucleant and demonstrate that the biological material hair-which naturally possesses a chemically and topographically complex surface structure-has excellent potential as an effective nucleating agent. Crystallization of poorly soluble compounds in the presence of hairs from a range of mammals shows that nucleation preferentially occurs at the cuticle step edges, while a novel microdroplet-based methodology was used to quantify the nucleati

SUBMITTER: Dunn TH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10704409 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature