Speaker
Description
Magnetic core-shell nanoparticles (MNPs) possess specific properties (nanoscale size, disposition of magnetic properties, good biocompatibility) that allow to improve various therapeutic methods or laboratory diagnostic techniques, include the field of separation of biomolecules such as various proteins or DNA/RNA molecules [1]. The specificity of different viral and bacterial diseases limits the possibilities of using conventional separation techniques due to the low concentration of the captured target substances and the requirement for large sample volumes. One promising approach in this field is magnetic separation using MNPs, which can interact and bind target molecules due to their large reaction surface [2]. The magnetic properties of MNPs are able to reduce the time-consuming nature of the whole separation process due to the rapid separation of the target substances from the biological sample using an external magnetic field. The target DNA molecules are separated from the surface of the MNPs in the next step at a significantly higher concentration than in traditional methods and subjected to further analysis [3].
The aim of our work was to design, synthesize and characterize magnetic nanoparticles suitable for magnetic separation. We prepared Fe$_3$O$_4$ MNPs, which are also commonly used in commercial applications, to be able to compare the performance of our MNPs. The MNPs prepared by us are exceptional in their shape, where we prepared samples in cubic and star shapes in addition to spherical ones, due to the increase in the reaction surface. We characterized the MNPs in terms of their structure, morphology, magnetic properties and investigated their separation properties.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contracts No. APVV-20-0512 and VEGA 1/0470/25.
References
[1] J. He et al., “Magnetic separation techniques in sample preparation for biological analysis: A review,” Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, vol. 101. Elsevier BV, pp. 84–101, Dec. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2014.04.017
[2] X. Hu et al., “Preparation and evaluation of solid-phase microextraction fiber based on molecularly imprinted polymers for trace analysis of tetracyclines in complicated samples,” Journal of Chromatography A, vol. 1188, no. 2. Elsevier BV, pp. 97–107, Apr. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2008.02.062
[3] A. Muhammad et al., “Detection of SARS-CoV-2 using real-time polymerase chain reaction in different clinical specimens: A critical review,” Allergologia et Immunopathologia, vol. 49, no. 1. Codon Publications, pp. 159–164, Jan. 08, 2021. https://doi.org/10.15586/aei.v49i1.60
