A suitable cryoprotectant, when mixed with the crystal and crystallization reagent, will cool to cryogenic temperature without ice formation and damage to the crystal. To assay for the proper concentration of cryoprotectant in the reagent used to grow the crystal, one can mix the cryoprotectant with the crystallization reagent and employ the desired cooling method (for example, place the solution in a CryoLoop™ and place the CryoLoop in a cryostream). Observe for ice formation either visually or with x-ray diffraction. Upon cooling, a transparent drop and x-ray diffraction pattern, free of powder diffraction rings or “ice rings” indicates success. The appearance of a cloudy drop or “ice rings” indicates an inappropriate cryoprotectant concentration or cryoprotectant. Incrementally increase the concentration and/or composition of the cryoprotectant serially 5 to 10% and repeat until the cooled drop remains clear while in the cryostream. Once a clear drop is achieved in the cryostream, this is typically a good starting point for cryopreservation of the crystal.

Some crystals can simply be dipped or washed quickly in a simple cryoprotectant for successful cryopreservation. However, when all else fails, a rational assay of each cryoprotectant with incremental increases in cryoprotectant concentration as well as a test of mixtures can be help to identify the best cryoprotectant for a crystal.

Each CryoPro kit contains 1 milliliter each of 48 unique cryoprotectants. Supplied as one set of two boxes, each containing 24 reagents.

Ready to use cryoprotectants are formulated using high purity reagents with CryoPro reagents and are formulated using Type 1+ ultrapure water, 18.2 MO•cm resistivity at 25°C, < 5 ppb Total Organic Carbon, < 1 Bacteria (CFU/ml), < 0.03 Endotoxin (EU/ml) and are sterile filtered.