Extraction of Genomic DNA Using Magnetic Nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) as a Solid-Phase Support

Magnetic separation technology, using magnetic particles, is quick and easy method for sensitive and reliable captures of specific proteins, genetic material and other biomolecules. The current paper describes a universal genomic DNA extraction method optimized in our laboratory using magnetic nanoparticles as a solid phase adsorbent. The yields of the isolated DNA with magnetic method were higher or equivalent to the conventional procedures in all the samples tested. Additionally, the magnetic method takes less than 15 minutes to extract DNA as against several hours taken by conventional protocols. Furthermore, the isolated DNA was found to function satisfactorily in PCR amplification and restriction endonuclease digestion. The developed procedure is simple, quick, cheap, robust and does not require the use of organic solvents or sophisticated equipments; thereby making it more amenable to automation.