This book comprehensively reviews the fundamentals of macromolecule crystallization and, together with its companion volume "Biomolecular Crystallization Across Experimentation and Modeling", offers a quantitative-oriented perspective, from thermodynamics and kinetics fundamentals to scalable continuous processes. Divided into 2 sections, the book begins with an overview of the main concepts to consider before starting a crystallization experiment, followed by an overview of the thermodynamic and kinetic variables and parameters that can be experimentally determined. Expert contributors cover topics such as protein phase diagrams, nucleation mechanisms, and biomolecular crystallization prediction. In the second part, readers will learn about the latest methodologies to promote biomolecular nucleation and the respective implications on the outcome crystallization kinetics variables. Chapters cover topics such as the use of flow and external fields as control strategies to promote crystallization, as well as alternative strategies to induce nucleation. The use of soft templates and seeding units to induce nucleation in a controlled manner is also explored in this part of the book.

This book serves as a valuable resource for designing and performing successful biomolecular crystallization experiments. Given its breadth, it appeals to scholars and researchers from both academia and industry, working in the field of biomolecular crystallization across several study areas, such as biochemistry, engineering, and biotechnology, among others.

Joana Ferreira is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering at MIT, USA. She holds a joint PhD from KU Leuven (Belgium) and the University of Porto (Portugal), where she investigated multiphase microfluidics for crystallization applications by combining experimental and numerical simulation approaches. Her research interests focus on the interface of downstream bioprocessing and formulation of (bio)pharmaceuticals, including advanced separation (crystallization and precipitation), multifunctional reactors (integration of PAT and automation), and soft-matter engineering. Dr. Ferreira has contributed to leading journals and delivered numerous invited talks at international conferences. She recently received an outstanding talk award at a premier conference in protein crystallization, contributed to a book chapter, and filed a non-provisional utility patent application on novel crystallizer design.

Filipa Castro is an Assistant Researcher and one of the Associate directors of the Fermentation lab at the Centre of Biological Engineering, at the University of Minho, Portugal. She holds a PhD in Bioengineering (MIT-Portugal program) from the University of Minho (Portugal). Her research combines crystallization science with process design and process intensification strategies to advance sustainable downstream processing. Her work led to numerous scientific papers and book chapters, including invited oral presentations and lectures, and laboratory prototypes based on oscillatory flow reactors (EP3439773 (B1)). Filipa has participated in several national and European-funded research projects, being currently the PI of the CrystalWhey project and the co-PI of the MSCA-DN PROCRYSTAL. She is actively involved in supervising and lecturing. Filipa is a member of the scientific committees of ISIC 2026 and BACG 2026, and a mentor in the EFCE Earlies Mentoring Programme 2026.