Magnetic nanoparticles for purification of biomolecules: challenges and opportunities

REVIEW

  • Claudia Rodríguez Torres IFLP-CCT-La Plata-CONICET
  • Luciana Juncal IFLP-CCT-La Plata-CONICET
  • Elisa De Sousa IFLP-CCT-La Plata-CONICET
  • Odín Vazquez Robaina IFLP-CCT-La Plata-CONICET
  • Natalia Capriotti LNI, CENEXA, CONICET
  • Karen Salcedo Rodríguez IFLP-CCT-La Plata-CONICET
  • Alberto Nicolás Barrera Illanes LNI, CENEXA, CONICET
  • Nicolás Mele IFLP-CCT-La Plata-CONICET
  • Carla Layana LNI, CENEXA, CONICET
  • Lautaro Bracco INCUINTA, INTA
  • Juan Pablo Malito INCUINTA, INTA
  • Pedro Mendoza Zélis IFLP-CCT-La Plata-CONICET
  • Sheila Ons LNI, CENEXA, CONICET

Abstract

The purification and/or concentration of biomolecules from complex mixtures constitutes one of the fundamental steps in the processes involved in biotechnology and, in particular, in the diagnostic methods of human and veterinary diseases. Most purification procedures are based on the interaction between a solid phase and the biomolecule to be purified (RNA, DNA, proteins, etc.), involving several steps with dependence on the method used. Among the different approaches, the use of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) has become of increasing interest due to its efficiency, practicality and the possibility of automation. In this work we present preliminary results on the use of MNPs for the purification of nucleic acids and recombinant proteins.

Author Biography

Claudia Rodríguez Torres, IFLP-CCT-La Plata-CONICET

Bachelor of Physics from the Faculty of Exact Sciences, UNLP. PhD in Physics with a focus on Hard Ferromagnets. She conducted postdoctoral research on the topic of Recrystallization of Cold-Rolled Steels. Currently, she is a Principal Researcher at CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council) and a Professor in the Department of Physics at the National University of La Plata. She is responsible for the Magnetism in Oxides (MagOx) group at the Institute of Physics La Plata and the Thin Film Growth Laboratory (IFLP). Her research area covers topics in solid-state physics, such as semiconductor physics, magnetism, and nanotechnology. Her current main focus is the exploration and design of new materials for spintronics, catalysis, and biotechnology applications. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, she led a research project for the development of a viral RNA extraction kit based on magnetic nanoparticles. This project led to the creation of a technology-based company called Magnolia Nanotech SA, of which she is a co-founder.

Published
2023-11-22
Issue
Vol 2 No 3: October 2023
Section
Articles