Enhanced crystal nucleation

Abstract

Crystal nucleation, and associated articles, systems, and methods, are generally described.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A collection of composite structures, wherein at least some of the composite structures comprise:
 a surface having an outer boundary;   a plurality of selective binding agents proximate to the outer boundary; and   crystalline material or a precursor thereof in contact with at least one of the selective binding agents.   
     
     
         12 . The collection of  claim 11 , wherein an areal density of the selective binding agents over the surface having the outer boundary is less than or equal to 100 per nm 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The collection of  claim 11 , wherein the crystalline material or the precursor thereof comprises a protein. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The collection of  claim 11 , wherein the composite structures are located within a liquid medium. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The collection of  claim 11 , wherein the composite structures comprise solid particles. 
     
     
         19 . The collection of  claim 18 , wherein the selective binding agents are covalently bonded to the solid particles. 
     
     
         20 . A collection of composite structures, wherein at least some of the composite structures comprise:
 a domain having an outer boundary;   one or more agents proximate to the outer boundary; and   crystalline material or a precursor thereof in contact with at least one of the one or more agents;   wherein at least one of the one or more agents is configured to selectively bind the crystalline material or the precursor.   
     
     
         21 . The collection of  claim 20 , wherein an areal density of the selective binding agents over the domain having the outer boundary is less than or equal to 100 per nm 2 . 
     
     
         22 . The collection of  claim 20 , wherein the crystalline material or the precursor thereof comprises a protein. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The collection of  claim 20 , wherein the composite structures are located within a liquid medium. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The collection of  claim 20 , wherein the composite structures comprise solid particles. 
     
     
         28 . The collection of  claim 27 , wherein the selective binding agents are covalently bonded to the solid particles. 
     
     
         29 - 40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . A composite structure, comprising:
 a surface; and   a plurality of selective binding agents bound to the surface;   wherein the areal density of the selective binding agents over the surface is less than or equal to 100 per nm 2 .   
     
     
         42 . The composite structure of  claim 41 , further comprising a crystalline material or a precursor thereof in contact with at least one of the selective binding agents. 
     
     
         43 . The composite structure of  claim 41 , wherein a concentration of a solubilized crystal precursor within a liquid medium within which the surface is located is less than or equal to 0.9 times a saturation concentration of the solubilized crystal precursor within the liquid medium. 
     
     
         44 . The collection of  claim 11 , wherein the crystalline material or the precursor thereof comprises insulin and/or an antibody. 
     
     
         45 . The collection of  claim 44 , wherein the crystalline material or the precursor thereof comprises a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         46 . The collection of  claim 20 , wherein the crystalline material or the precursor thereof comprises insulin and/or an antibody. 
     
     
         47 . The collection of  claim 46 , wherein the crystalline material or the precursor thereof comprises a monoclonal antibody. 
     
     
         48 . The composite structure of  claim 42 , wherein the crystalline material or the precursor thereof comprises insulin and/or an antibody. 
     
     
         49 . The composite structure of  claim 48 , wherein the crystalline material or the precursor thereof comprises a monoclonal antibody.