Magnetic particles and uses thereof

Abstract

The disclosure provides improved magnetic glass particles for use in nucleic acid capture, enrichment, analysis, and/or purification. Various modifications to the disclosed compositions and methods of using the same, as well as devices and kits are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for nucleic acid analysis, the device comprising:
 (a) a sample introduction port configured to receive a biological sample;   (b) a compartment comprising a plurality of superparamagnetic beads, each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprising a stabilizer and a defined core of aggregated magnetic nanoparticles, wherein the defined core of aggregated magnetic nanoparticles comprises a diameter between 100-400 nm and wherein each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprises a liquid-glass coating comprising a silicate; and,   (c) one or more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) compartments, wherein the one or more PCR compartments are configured to conduct a PCR analysis.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the superparamagnetic beads are produced under solvothermal conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each nanoparticle comprises a size of 30 nm or less. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid-glass coating comprises a thickness of 20 nm or less. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid-glass coating comprises a thickness of 10 nm or less. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprises a diameter between about 80 nm and about 500 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein defined core of aggregated magnetic nanoparticles comprises a diameter between 200 nm to 350 nm. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprises a saturation magnetization between 50-70 Am 2 /kg. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprises a magnetic remanence below 3 Am 2 /kg. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the silicate is selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, potassium silicate, calcium silicate, lithium silicate, and magnesium silicate. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of citrate, histidine, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), sodium oleate, and polyacrylic acid. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the defined core comprises Fe 3 O 4 , α-Fe 2 O 3 , γ-Fe 2 O 3 , MnFe x O y , CoFe x O y , NiFe x O y , CuFe x O y , ZnFe x O y , CdFe x O y , BaFe x O and SrFe x O, wherein x is an integer between 1 to 3 inclusive, and wherein y is 3 or 4. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of superparamagnetic magnetic beads is dispersed within a suspension. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more PCR compartments comprises a reagent preparation compartment, a target enrichment compartment, an inhibitor removal compartment, a nucleic acid extraction compartment, an amplification compartment, or a real-time detection compartment, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a cartridge, a container, or a pouch. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the pouch is a self-contained nucleic acid analysis pouch that comprises a cell lysis zone, a nucleic acid preparation zone, a first-stage amplification zone, a second-stage amplification zone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge is a self-contained nucleic acid analysis cartridge that comprises a sample holding chamber, a wash chamber, a lysis reagent chamber, a lysis chamber, a waste chamber, a neutralizer chamber, a mix chamber, a reaction vessel, or a detection chamber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the compartment comprising the plurality of superparamagnetic beads is in fluid communication with one or more of the sample holding chambers, the wash chamber, the lysis reagent chamber, the lysis chamber, the waste chamber, the neutralizer chamber, the mix chamber, the reaction vessel, or the detection chamber, or the combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a flexible tubule configured into a plurality of segments, wherein at least one segment comprises the plurality of superparamagnetic beads and wherein one or more additional segments of the flexible tubule comprises the one or more PCR compartments. 
     
     
         20 . A device for nucleic acid analysis, the device comprising:
 (a) an introduction port adapted to receive an aliquot of a biological sample;   (b) a compartment comprising a plurality of superparamagnetic beads, each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprising a stabilizer and a defined core of aggregated magnetic nanoparticles, wherein (i) the defined core of aggregated magnetic nanoparticles is produced under solvothermal conditions and comprises a diameter between 100-400 nm, wherein (ii) the nanoparticles comprise a size of 30 nm or less, and wherein (iii) each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprises a liquid-glass coating, the liquid glass coating comprising a silicate and a thickness of 20 nm or less; and,   (c) a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis region comprising one or more additional compartments, each configured to conduct one or more steps of the PCR analysis.   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprises a diameter between about 80 nm and about 500 nm and wherein the defined core of aggregated magnetic nanoparticles comprises a diameter between 200 nm to 350 nm. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein each superparamagnetic magnetic bead comprises a saturation magnetization between 50-70 Am 2 /kg and a magnetic remanence below 3 Am 2 /kg. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the silicate is selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, potassium silicate, calcium silicate, lithium silicate, and magnesium silicate and wherein the stabilizer is selected from the group consisting of citrate, histidine, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), sodium oleate, and polyacrylic acid. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the defined core comprises Fe 3 O 4 , α-Fe 2 O 3 , γ-Fe 2 O 3 , MnFe x O y , CoFe x O y , NiFe x O y , CuFe x O y , ZnFe x O y , CdFe x O y , BaFe x O and SrFe x O, wherein x is an integer between 1 to 3 inclusive, and wherein y is 3 or 4. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the PCR analysis region comprises a reagent preparation compartment, a target enrichment compartment, an inhibitor removal compartment, a nucleic acid extraction compartment, an amplification compartment, or a real-time detection compartment, or a combination thereof.