Panalytical's focusing mirror makes macromolecule analysis possible on a standard laboratory XRD system.
Panalytical has added a focusing mirror to its range of Prefix optics, allowing transmission diffraction experiments to be carried out on macromolecules, such as proteins, using its standard X'Pert Pro MPD X-ray diffraction system.
Used in combination with the company's X'Celerator detector, the mirror enables the generation of high-resolution data that are suitable for crystallographic analysis.
This means that for the first time, macromolecules can be analysed using a standard, laboratory-based XRD system, rather than on a synchrotron beam line or a single crystal diffractometer, claims the company.
Experiments on hen egg white lysozyme, using this system set-up, gave cell parameters that were in good agreement with data obtained from single crystal measurements.
Emphasis on the research and development of macromolecules, especially in areas such as protein pharmaceutics, has increased in recent years.
Many macromolecular materials have traditionally been considered 'difficult' for X-ray diffraction because of their weak scattering characteristics and small sample volumes.
Often, however, a lot of effort is put in growing crystals of sufficient size for the single crystal diffractometer.
In the cases where this was impossible a synchrotron beam line was needed for recording power patterns.
By offering researchers the capacity to pre-screen and investigate protein-based medicines within the laboratory, use of the new mirror in combination with the X'Celerator detector represents a significant technical advance, says the firm.
As a Prefix optic, the focusing mirror is interchangeable with all other available incident optics for the X'Pert Pro MPD, without the need for any realignment.
From a technical perspective, its use means that the size of the capillary tube no longer governs angular resolution, and peaks narrower than 0.05 degrees can be resolved easily.
Use of the X'Celerator detector significantly reduces the time taken for data collection.
Panalytical's X'Pert Pro MPD is a multi-purpose X-ray diffraction system designed for use in analytical laboratories in universities and industry.
It is able to operate in demanding environments where multiple users with different samples are performing a range of analysis types.
The Prefix concept allows fast and accurate changing of optical modules and sample stages, so that the X'Pert Pro MPD system can be easily reconfigured from a high-end system for the crystallographic researcher to a 'work horse' for routine measurements.
