Patent ID: 8288169
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: B82Y,C12N,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of separating biomolecules from a sample, comprising the steps of: a) providing a solid phase nanoparticle matrix comprising nanoparticles having a surface area to volume ratio (m2/cm3) greater than 10, and densities (p) of 2 or more; b) selecting a subset of the nanoparticles having sedimentation rates in water where the sedimentation velocity is between about 0.1 cm/min at 10,000 G (Vmin) and about 2 cm/min at 500 G (Vmax) at standard temperature and pressure, and wherein the subset of nanoparticles form a colloidal suspension in aqueous solution; c) treating the sample with the subset of nanoparticles forming the solid phase nanoparticle matrix in colloidal suspension and allowing biomolecules from the sample to bind to the subset of nanoparticles forming the solid phase nanoparticle matrix, thereby forming biomolecule-nanoparticle complexes; d) adding magnetic beads to the sample and allowing the biomolecule-nanoparticle complexes to associate with the magnetic beads, thereby forming biomolecule-nanoparticle-magnetic bead complexes; e) partitioning the biomolecule-nanoparticle-magnetic bead complexes from the colloidal suspension by exposing the sample to a magnetic field; f) eluting the bound biomolecules from the biomolecule-nanoparticle-magnetic bead complexes; and g) recovering the eluted biomolecules.