DYNAMICS AND MICROSTRUCTURE FORMATION DURING NUCLEATION OF LYSOZYME SOLUTIONS

The liquid-liquid coexistence region of aqueous lysozyme-NaCl solution s was examined by time-resolved small-angle static light scattering an d light microscopy. At the initial stages of the reaction scattered in tensities peaked at finite scattering vectors as expected for globular domains growing under the influence of competing interactions. An osc illatory behavior of the mean domain radius is observed at later stage s of the reaction as a function of time. Microscopic observations reve aled domains undergoing correlated ripening with time and forming laby rinthine microstructure and microcrystals at later stages. Potentials of the mean force computations yield first qualitative insights into t he effective pair interactions during the process. The behavior of the system can be understood qualitatively as spinodal decomposition foll owed by nucleation, leading to a modulated phase type of microstructur e.