Magnetic Pigment

Abstract

Magnetic particles with an outer glass surface being essentially poreless or having pores of a diameter of less then 10 nm as well as ferromagnetic particles with a glass surface are preferentially useful for the isolation of biological material from samples. They provide a quick and reliable purification.

1 . A method for performing an enzymatic reaction, comprising:
 incubating a sample containing a biological material with a magnetic particle having a surface made of an amorphous material under conditions such that the nucleic acids present in said sample can bind to said magnetic particle;   thereafter, separating the bound nucleic acids from the sample; and   thereafter, using the nucleic acids in an enzymatic reaction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said enzymatic method is selected from the group consisting of sequencing, radioactive or nonradioactive labeling, nucleic acid amplification, transcription, translation, and ligation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bound nucleic acids are separated from the sample using a magnetic field. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said incubating step includes adding at least one of a proteinase and a chaotropic salt. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising eluting the bound nucleic acids from the magnetic particles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said eluting is performed by addition of a nucleic acid amplification master mix solution. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said eluting is performed by addition of a low salt solution. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method is performed in an automated apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic particles comprise a magnetic core and an outer glass layer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein outer glass surface completely covers said magnetic core and is substantially pore-free or has pores having a diameter less than 10 nm; 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said glass surface has pores with a diameter less than 1 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particle has a size between 10 and 60 μm.