Abstract:
An apparatus for extracting biomaterials includes: a container body; a capturing unit which is formed on a side of the container body to receive a sample mixed with magnetic beads and flow the received sample mixed with the magnetic beads into the container body; and a magnet disposed outside the capturing unit which captures at an inner wall of the capturing unit the magnetic beads from the sample mixed with the magnetic beads while the sample mixed with the magnetic beads is flown into the container body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0034418 filed on Apr. 19, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to extracting biomaterials, and more particularly, to containers for extracting biomaterials and methods of extracting biomaterials using the containers, by which biomaterials, such as nucleic acids, may be extracted using magnetic beads. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A process of extracting proteins or nucleic acids from a variety of clinical samples in the bio-medical field is very important for molecular diagnostics. For example, in extracting nucleic acids, purity, yield rate, and reliability of the nucleic acids, removal of obstructive factors in the molecular diagnosis, sensitivity of the molecular diagnosis, and cross contamination between samples need to be considered to optimize the process. 
         [0006]    There are various methods of extracting biomaterials, such as physical, chemical, or biochemical methods, for example. Furthermore, recently, a method of extracting biomaterials using magnetic beads or silica matrices has been introduced. 
         [0007]    In order to extract nucleic acids from a sample in a liquid form that includes biomaterials such as nucleic acids, a method including combining magnetic beads with the nucleic acids, using a magnet to separate the magnetic beads may be used. The method works by adding the magnetic beads to the sample that includes nucleic acids, agitating the sample until the magnetic beads are combined with the nucleic acids, and using a magnet to separate the magnetic beads. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    One or more exemplary embodiments provide apparatuses for extracting biomaterials which may efficiently retrieve magnetic beads by reforming the container which contains a sample with the magnetic beads, and methods of extracting biomaterials using the apparatuses. 
         [0009]    Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of one or more exemplary embodiments. 
         [0010]    According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for extracting biomaterials includes: a container body; a capturing unit which is formed on a side of the container body to receive a sample mixed with magnetic beads and flow the received sample mixed with the magnetic beads into the container body; and a magnet disposed outside the capturing unit which captures at an inner wall of the capturing unit the magnetic beads from the sample mixed with the magnetic beads while the sample mixed with the magnetic beads is flown into the container body. 
         [0011]    The magnet may be a permanent magnet, which is disposed to be removable from around the capturing unit. 
         [0012]    The magnet may be an electromagnet, which is able to capture the magnetic beads when a current is applied thereto, and loses its magnetic force when the current is not applied thereto. 
         [0013]    The magnet may be disposed to contact the capturing unit. 
         [0014]    The capturing unit may have a type of tube narrower than the container body. 
         [0015]    The apparatus may further include a connection part between the capturing unit and the container body. 
         [0016]    The sample mixed with the magnetic beads may flow on the wall of the capturing unit. 
         [0017]    The apparatus may further include an inflow part in which the sample mixed with the magnetic beads from the outside flows on the wall of the inflow part. 
         [0018]    The capturing unit may be disposed between the inflow part and the container body, the capturing unit having a smaller inclination than the inflow part. 
         [0019]    According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a method of extracting biomaterials includes: mixing a sample comprising an object material with magnetic beads, to combine the magnetic beads and the object material; flowing the sample mixed with the magnetic beads into a container body of a container through a capturing unit of the container around which a magnet is disposed; capturing the magnetic beads which are combined with the object material, at the capturing unit using the magnet, to separate the magnetic beads from the sample; removing extraneous substances around the object material which is combined with the magnetic beads; and extracting the object material by separating the object material from the magnetic beads. 
         [0020]    The method may further include injecting the magnetic beads into the sample by using an injection tip without having the injection tip touch the sample. 
         [0021]    The mixing the sample with the magnetic beads may be performed using a mixing tip to inhale and discharge the sample into which the magnetic beads are injected. 
         [0022]    The method may further include: allowing the sample from which has been separated from the magnetic beads combined with the object material to be contained in the container body; and removing the sample by inhaling the sample with the mixing tip. 
         [0023]    The method may further include: injecting a washing buffer to the container body with the injection tip without having the injection tip touch the container body; inhaling the washing buffer with the mixing tip from the container body; and allowing the magnetic beads which are combined with the object material to be contained in the container body by using the mixing tip to flow the washing buffer down to the capturing unit where the magnetic beads have been captured. 
         [0024]    The method may further include: injecting an elution buffer into the container body with the injection tip without having the injection tip touch the container body; inhaling the elution buffer with the mixing tip from the container body; and allowing the magnetic beads that are combined with the object material to be contained in the container body by using the mixing tip to flow the elution buffer down to the capturing unit where the magnetic beads have been captured. 
         [0025]    The method may further include: mixing the object material with the magnetic beads by using the mixing tip to inhale and discharge the elution buffer which is mixed with the magnetic beads; flowing the elution buffer flows through the capturing unit where the magnet is disposed, using the magnet to capture the magnetic beads; allowing the elution buffer to be separated from the magnetic beads, mixed with the object material, and contained in the container body; and using the mixing tip to inhale the elution buffer mixed with the object material to be removed from the container body. 
         [0026]    In the method, a same injection tip, a same mixing tip, and a same container may be used. 
         [0027]    The removing the extraneous substances around the object material may be performed one or more times. 
         [0028]    The capturing unit may be disposed outside of the container body and connected to the container body through a connection part which slows down the speed of the flowing the sample mixed with the magnetic beads. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a container for extracting biomaterials, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a container for extracting biomaterials, according to another exemplary embodiment; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 3A-3C  schematically illustrate a process of mixing magnetic beads with a sample that contains biomaterials in the method of extracting biomaterials, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4A-4C  schematically illustrate a mixing process in the method of extracting biomaterials, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  schematically illustrate a process of separating magnetic beads from a sample in the method of extracting biomaterials, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 6A-6C  schematically illustrate a process of removing or extracting a sample from which magnetic beads has been separated in the method of extracting biomaterials, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIGS. 7A-7D  schematically illustrate a process of washing magnetic beads to which biomaterials are attached in the method of extracting biomaterials, according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0037]      FIGS. 8A-8D  schematically illustrate a process of separating magnetic beads so as to extract biomaterials in the method of extracting biomaterials, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referent to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the exemplary embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description. Element sizes and thicknesses are exaggerated for clarity. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a container  100  for extracting biomaterials, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         [0040]    Referring  FIG. 1 , the container  100  may include a container body  110  and a capturing unit  120 . The capturing unit  120  may include a capturing part  121  and a connection part  122 . 
         [0041]    The container body  110  may contain a sample  13 . A sample  11  mixed with magnetic beads  12  flows through the capturing part  121  connected to the container body  110 , and a magnet  140  may be disposed around the capturing part  121  to capture the magnetic beads  12  from the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12 . The magnet  140  may be any type of magnet that is capable of generating magnetic force, such as a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. For example, in the case of using an electromagnet, it is easy to determine whether to capture the magnetic beads  12  or let the magnetic beads  12  flow into the container body  110  by controlling a current that is applied to the electromagnet. 
         [0042]    The container  100  may efficiently retrieve the magnetic beads  12  by reforming the shape of the container  100  that contains the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12 . 
         [0043]    In a related art container, while a mixed sample in a liquid form is contained in a container body, a magnet may be used to capture and retrieve magnetic beads from the mixed sample. The magnet may be disposed below the bottom or on a side of the container body to capture the magnetic beads. The related art container may take more time to capture the magnetic beads when the magnet is disposed below the bottom of the container body to capture the magnetic beads than when the magnet is disposed on a side of the container body. 
         [0044]    In this case, if the amount of the mixed sample in the liquid form is large or the container body has a large volume, magnetic force becomes weaker for spots in the container body which are away from the magnet  140 , thus reducing the efficiency in capturing the magnetic beads. 
         [0045]    In another related art container, a magnet may be positioned around a head part of a liquid sample dispenser to which a tip for supplying a mixed sample is attached, to capture the magnetic beads. In this case, the magnet may capture the magnetic beads on the side of a narrow path of the tip, so a magnet generating relatively weak magnetic force may be employed and capturing efficiency may increase. However, the head part around which the magnet is installed may weigh heavily and narrowing the distance between adjacent tips may hardly be achieved. 
         [0046]    In the container  100  for extracting biomaterials, according to the present embodiment, while the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  flows through the capturing part  121 , the magnet  140  positioned around the capturing part  121  may capture the magnetic beads  12 . Accordingly, the magnetic beads  12  may be captured using a magnet generating relatively weak magnetic force without disposing a separate device around the tip for capturing the magnetic beads  12 , thus increasing capturing efficiency. 
         [0047]    Here, the magnet  140  may be disposed to contact a surface of the capturing part  121 . This may intensify the magnetic force reaching the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12 , which flows through the capturing part  121 , and a range covered by the magnetic force may also be enlarged. Therefore, efficiency in capturing the magnetic beads  12  by the magnet  140  may increase. 
         [0048]    Furthermore, the magnet  140  may also be disposed to be removable from around the capturing part  121 . This may efficiently utilize equipment to be used in a process of extracting biomaterials using the container  100 . For example, in the case of using a permanent magnet as the magnet  140 , removing or approaching the magnet  140  from or to the capturing part  121  may determine whether to capture the magnetic beads  12  or not. On the other hand, in the case of using an electromagnet instead of the permanent magnet as the magnet  140 , controlling a current to be applied to a coil of the electromagnet may determine whether to capture the magnetic beads  12  or not. 
         [0049]    The sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  may be contained in a mixing tip  130 , and then, be injected through an injection gate at an end of the mixing tip  130  into the capturing part  121 . The sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  may flow on an inner wall of the capturing part  121  when supplied into the capturing part  121 . Therefore, the magnet beads  12  included in the sample  11  may be easily captured and attached to the inner wall of the capturing part  121 . 
         [0050]    Here, the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  that is contained in the mixing tip  130  may be injected into the capturing part  121  by a predetermined pressure applied through the mixing tip  130 . In this way, the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  may be smoothly supplied into the capturing part  121 . 
         [0051]    The capturing part  121  may have a tubular shape which is narrower than the container body  110 . The capturing part  121  of the tubular shape may form a narrow flow path inside the capturing part  121 . That is to say, the narrow flow path is formed in a space of the capturing part  121  in which the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  is contained, and the magnet  140  may capture the magnetic beads  12  in the capturing part  121  by separating the magnetic beads  12  from the sample  11  that flows through the narrow flow path. 
         [0052]    From the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  flowing through the narrow flow path, the magnetic beads  12  may be captured around the magnet  140  while the sample  13 , resulting from separating the magnetic beads  12  from the sample  11 , may flow down into the container body  110 . Here, some of the magnetic beads  12  that have not been captured by the magnet  140  may be contained in the container body  110  with the sample  13 . 
         [0053]    As the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  flows on the inner wall of the narrow flow path, the speed of the sample  11  flowing through the narrow flow path may become slow, which may help the magnetic beads  12  included in the sample  11  to be easily captured and attached to the inner wall of the narrow flow path of the capturing unit  121 . 
         [0054]    The magnet  140  may be disposed to surround at least a part of the capturing part  121 . For example, if the capturing part  121  has a tubular shape and forms a narrow flow path therein, the magnet  140  may be disposed to surround the capturing part  121  of the tubular shape. In this case, an area of the capturing unit part surrounded by the magnet  140  increases, and thus, the efficiency in capturing the magnetic beads  12  in the capturing unit part may also increase. 
         [0055]    Furthermore, in the case of the capturing part  121  being in the shape of a narrow tube, the connection part  122  may be connected between the capturing part  121  and the container body  110 . That is, while the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  flows through the capturing part  121 , the magnetic beads  12  are captured by the magnet  140 , and thus, attached to the inner wall of the capturing part  121 , and the sample  13  resulting from capturing the magnetic beads  12  from the sample  11  flows through the connection part  122 , and ends up being contained in the container body  110 . 
         [0056]    Here, the capturing part  121  and the connection part  122  together form the capturing unit  120 , which may be connected to an upper part of an outer side wall of the container body  110 . The sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  injected from the mixing tip  130  through the injection gate at one end of the capturing unit  120  may flow through the capturing unit  120  into the container body  110 . Therefore, while the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  flows through the capturing unit  120 , sufficient time for capturing the magnetic beads  12  may be ensured. 
         [0057]    The capturing unit  120  is exposed to the outside at one end while being connected to the container body  110  at the other end. The capturing unit  120  may have a narrower width than the container body  110  and may have a magnet disposed around the capturing unit  120 . Thus, the capturing unit  120  may form a narrow flow path through which the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  flows and in which the magnetic beads  12  may be captured. The narrow flow path may allow the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  to slowly flow through the capturing unit  120 , thus the sample  13  resulting from capturing the magnetic beads  12  from the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  is contained in the container body  110 . 
         [0058]    The capturing unit  120  may include the capturing part  121  and the connection part  122 . The capturing part  121  may allow the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  to be injected therein from an end of the capturing unit  121 , and may allow the magnetic beads  12  to be captured from the sample  11 . The connection part  122  may be connected between the capturing part  121  and the container body  110 . 
         [0059]    In the case the container body  110  is disposed vertically, the capturing unit  121  may be vertically disposed in parallel with the container body  110  substantially, and the connection part  122  may be connected between the capturing unit  121  and the container body  110  with a predetermined inclination. Here, a space for the magnet  140  to be disposed may be secured, such that the magnet  140  may be disposed to contact or to be at a predetermined distance from the capturing part  121  disposed vertically. 
         [0060]    In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a part being connected in parallel with the container body  110  corresponds to the capturing part  121  around which the magnet  140  is disposed to capture the magnetic beads  12 . However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and the magnet  140  may surround the connection part  122  connected between the capturing part  121  and the container body  110  with a predetermined inclination. 
         [0061]    In the latter case, the magnetic beads  12  may be captured somewhere in the inclination part of the connection part  122  where the flowing speed of the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  becomes slow. Thus, the magnet  140  may capture the magnetic beads  12  more easily. 
         [0062]    In other words, the capturing part  121  of  FIG. 1  may correspond to an inflow part into which the sample  11  mixed with the magnetic beads  12  flows from the outside on the inner wall thereof, and the connection part  122  of  FIG. 1  may correspond to a capturing part in which the magnetic beads  12  are captured. Here, the connection part  122  may be disposed to have less inclination than the inflow part. 
         [0063]    The container  100  for extracting biomaterials may be used to extract biomaterials according to methods of extracting biomaterials illustrated in  FIGS. 3A to 8D , according to exemplary embodiments. 
         [0064]    Using the container  100  for extracting biomaterials according to an exemplary embodiment may simplify a method of extracting biomaterials, and may reduce waste of an injection tip  150  shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C , the mixing tip  130 , and/or the container  100 . For example, the entire process of extracting biomaterials using the container  100  may be performed, thereby only using one injection tip  150 , one mixing tip  130 , and one container  100 . 
         [0065]    When the container  100  for extracting biomaterials is used to capture magnetic beads, the injection tip  150  may inject the magnetic beads  34  into a mixed sample  31  while being handled not to touch samples  31  and  33 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C . In this way, the injection tip  150  is not contaminated by the samples  31  and  33 , so the same injection tip  150  may be used in subsequent processes without need for replacement. 
         [0066]    Furthermore, the same mixing tip  130  may be used in all processes. This may lead to reduction in expendable supplies. 
         [0067]      FIG. 2  schematically shows a cross-sectional diagram of a container  200  for extracting biomaterials, according to another exemplary embodiment. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , magnetic beads  22  are captured in an upper capturing part  220  instead of the capturing unit  120  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Description about the same parts as those of  FIG. 1  will not be described in detail. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a container  200  for extracting biomaterials may include a container body  210  and the upper capturing part  220 . The container body  210  may contain a sample  23 . While a sample  21  mixed with the magnetic beads  22  flows through the upper capturing part  220 , the magnetic beads  22  may be captured by a magnet  240 . 
         [0069]    The sample  21  mixed with the magnetic beads  22  is flowing alongside an inner wall of the upper capturing part  220 , which slows down a flowing speed of the sample  21  mixed with the magnetic beads  22  and makes the magnet  240  capture the magnetic beads  22  more easily. 
         [0070]    The upper capturing unit  220  may include an inflow part  221  and a capture part  222 . The inflow part  221  corresponds to an injection part of the container  200  allowing the sample  21  mixed with the magnetic beads  22  to flow in alongside the inner wall of the inflow part  221 . The sample  21  mixed with the magnetic beads  22  which are introduced into the inflow part  221  may flow along the capture part  222  and may be contained in the container body  210 . 
         [0071]    The sample  21  mixed with the magnetic beads  22  may be supplied into the inflow part  221  via a mixing tip  230 . The capture part  222  may be disposed between the inflow part  221  and the container body  210 . The capture part  222  may be formed to have less inclination than the inflow part  221 , which slows down the flowing speed of the mixed sample  21 , and thus, makes the magnetic beads  22  captured there easily. 
         [0072]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , an inclined part connected to the container body  210  and surrounded by the magnet  240  for capturing the magnetic beads  22  forms the capture part  222 . However, the inventive concept is not limited to this, but may also have a different exemplary embodiment as shown in reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0073]    In the case where the container body  210  is oriented vertically, the inflow part  221  is substantially parallel with the container body  210 . Here, the capture part  222  may be a connection part between the inflow part  221  and the container body  210 . In this case, a space for the magnet  240  to be disposed may be secured, such that the magnet  240  may be disposed to contact or to be at a predetermined distance from the capture part disposed vertically. 
         [0074]      FIGS. 3A  to  FIG. 8D  schematically illustrate a method of extracting biomaterials according to an exemplary embodiment. The method is implemented using the container  100  or  200  for extracting biomaterials as shown in  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2 , so the description about similar functions with respect to the container  100  or  200  will be omitted. 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A to 8D , the method of extracting biomaterials may include a process of combining magnetic beads as shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C , a process of separating the magnetic beads as shown in  FIGS. 4A to 6C , a washing process as shown in  FIGS. 7A to 7D , and an elution process as shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8D . 
         [0076]    In the process of combining magnetic beads shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3D , magnetic beads  34  are mixed with a sample  33  that includes an object material, thus combining the magnetic beads  24  with the object material. In the process of separating the magnetic beads  24  shown in  FIGS. 4A to 6C , while a sample  33 ,  41  or  51  including the magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62  flows through an area around which the magnet  140  is disposed, the magnet  140  may capture the magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62 , thus to separate the magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62  from the sample  33 ,  53  or  63 . 
         [0077]    In the washing process shown in  FIGS. 7A to 7D , extraneous substances around the object material that is combined with the magnetic beads  72  may be removed. In the elution process shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8D , the object material may be separated from the magnetic beads  82  to extract the object material. 
         [0078]    The method of extracting biomaterials according to an embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 8 , may retrieve the magnetic beads  82  efficiently by using a shape-reformed container to separate the magnetic beads  82  and then extract biomaterials. 
         [0079]    In addition, the method of extracting biomaterials as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 8  may simplify the overall process and reduce waste of the injection tip  150 , the mixing tip  130 , and/or the container  100 . 
         [0080]    While the sample  33 ,  41  or  51  including the magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62  flows through an area that the magnet  140  is disposed around, the magnet  140  may capture the magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62  that is combined with the object material to separate the magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62  from a sample  33 ,  53  or  63 . 
         [0081]    The magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62  may be easily captured and attached to the inner wall of the capturing unit  120 . Here, the sample  31 ,  41  or  51  mixed with the magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62  may be injected into the capturing unit  120  by a predetermined pressure applied through the mixing tip  130 . That way, the sample  31 ,  41  or  51  mixed with the magnetic beads  34 ,  52  or  62  may be smoothly injected into the capturing unit  120 . 
         [0082]    In the process of combining the magnetic beads  34  shown in  FIGS. 3A to 3C , the magnetic beads  34  may be injected by the injection tip  150  into the sample  31 , while the injection tip  150  is handled not to touch the sample  31 . In other processes, the injection tip  150  is handled not to touch a sample. As such, the injection tip  150  is not contaminated by the sample  31  or the sample  33  mixed with the magnetic beads  34 , so it may be used in other processes without need for replacement. 
         [0083]    In addition, the mixing tip  130  may also be used in subsequent processes. By using a single mixing tip  130  in all processes, the waste of expendable supplies may be reduced. Here, the mixing tip  130  is larger in size than the injection tip  150 , thus having larger capacity. 
         [0084]    In the process of combining magnetic beads shown in  FIGS. 3A  to, firstly, the sample  31  that is an object sample, for example, blood  31  is contained in the container  100  ( FIG. 3A ). Then, using the injection tip  150 , a lysis buffer  32  is injected into the container  100  ( FIG. 3B ). The lysis buffer  32  may include lysozyme and/or chloroform. By the injection of the lysis buffer  32 , cell walls or cell membranes of the blood  31  may be destroyed, and thus, cell contents may be released. 
         [0085]    Then, protease (not shown), the magnetic beads  34 , and/or a bead binder (not shown) are injected into the container  100  ( FIG. 3C ). The protease, the magnetic beads  34 , and/or the bead binder may each be injected into the container  100  using the injection tip  150 . 
         [0086]    Because the injection tip  150  is not contaminated by the sample  31  or  33 , a single injection tip  150  may be used for all processes without replacement. 
         [0087]    The process of separating the magnetic beads  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A to 6C , may include a mixing process shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C , a separation process shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , and a buffer removing process shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6C . 
         [0088]    In the mixing process of  FIG. 4A to 4C , the magnetic beads  34  may be mixed with the sample  41  by the mixing tip  130  by inhaling and discharging the sample  41  mixed with the magnetic beads  34 . In the separation process of  FIGS. 5A and 5B , while the sample  51  mixed with the magnetic beads  52  is passing through the capturing unit  120 , the magnet  140  may capture and separate the magnetic beads  52  from the sample  53  ( FIG. 5A ). The sample  53  resulting from separating the magnetic beads  52  that are combined with an object material from the sample  51  may be contained in the container body  110  ( FIG. 5B ). 
         [0089]    In the buffer removing process shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6C , the mixing tip  130  may inhale the sample  63  separated from magnetic beads  62  to remove the sample  63  out of the container body  110 . 
         [0090]    The washing process shown in  FIGS. 7A to 7C  may include a process of injecting a washing buffer ( FIG. 7A ), a process of inhaling the washing buffer ( FIG. 7B ), and another process of injecting the washing buffer ( FIGS. 7C and 7D ). The washing process may begin with magnetic beads  72  being captured and attached to the capturing unit  120 . 
         [0091]    The washing process may be performed one or more times. By repeatedly performing the washing process several times, extraneous substances around an object material combined with magnetic beads  72  may be cleanly removed. The number of times of performing the washing process is freely determined depending on how long it takes and/or to what extent it is required. 
         [0092]    In the process of injecting a washing buffer, while the injection tip  150  is handled not to touch the container body  110 , the injection tip  150  may inject a washing buffer  73  into the container body  110  ( FIG. 7A ). In the process of inhaling the washing buffer, the mixing tip  130  may inhale the washing buffer  73  out of the container body  110  ( FIG. 7B ). In another process of injecting the washing buffer, the mixing tip  130  may flow the washing buffer  73  down to an area where magnetic beads  72  have been captured, and thus, a buffer  71  including the magnetic beads  72  combined with the object material may be contained in the container body  110  ( FIGS. 7C and 7D ). 
         [0093]    After the washing process of  FIGS. 7A to 7D  is completed, the process of separating magnetic beads shown in  FIGS. 4A to 6C  may be performed. 
         [0094]    The elution process shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8D  may include a process of injecting an elution buffer ( FIG. 8A ), a process of inhaling the elution buffer ( FIG. 8B ), and another process of injecting the elution buffer ( FIGS. 8C and 8D ). The elution process of  FIG. 8  may begin with the magnetic beads  82  being captured and attached to the capturing unit  120 . 
         [0095]    In the process of injecting an elution buffer, while the injection tip  150  is handled not to touch the container body  110 , the injection tip  150  may inject an elution buffer  83  into the container body  110  ( FIG. 8A ). 
         [0096]    In the process of inhaling the elution buffer, the mixing tip  130  may inhale the elution buffer  83  from the container body  110  ( FIG. 8B ). In another process of injecting the elution buffer, the mixing tip  130  may flow the elution buffer  83  down to an area where magnetic beads  82  have been captured, and thus, a buffer  81  including the magnetic beads  82  combined with an object material may be contained in the container body  110  ( FIG. 8C and 8D ). 
         [0097]    After the elution process is completed, the process of separating magnetic beads shown in  FIGS. 4A to 6C  may be performed. The process of separating magnetic beads may include the mixing process shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C , the separating process shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , and the buffer extracting process shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6C . 
         [0098]    In the mixing process of  FIGS. 4A to 4C , the mixing tip  130  may inhale and discharge the elution buffer  41  mixed with magnetic beads to mix an object material with the magnetic beads. In the separating process of  FIG. 5A and 5B , while the elution buffer  51  flows through the area that the magnet  140  is disposed around, the magnet  140  may capture the magnetic beads  52  to separate the magnetic beads  52  from an elution solution  53 . 
         [0099]    In the buffer extracting process shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6C , the magnetic beads  62  are separated, the elution buffer  63  mixed with an object material is contained in the container body  110 , and the mixing tip  130  may inhale the elution buffer  63  to be removed from the container body  110 . 
         [0100]    Carrying out the method of extracting biomaterials according to the above exemplary embodiment to extract biomaterials, as shown in  FIGS. 3A to 8D , may simplify the entire processes, and reduce the waste of the injection tip  150 , mixing tip  130 , and/or container  100  for use in the processes. 
         [0101]    For example, using only a single injection tip  150 , a single mixing tip  130 , and a single container, the entire processes of extracting biomaterials may be performed. 
         [0102]    Although the method of extracting biomaterials shown in  FIGS. 3A to 8D  has mainly been described with respect to the container  100  for extracting biomaterials shown in  FIG. 1 , the invention is not limited thereto and may also be applied to the container  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0103]    As described above, according to the one or more of the above exemplary embodiments, magnetic beads may be efficiently retrieved by reforming a container for containing a sample mixed with magnetic beads. In addition, the biomaterial extracting process may be simplified, and the number of injection tips, mixing tips, and/or containers which are required in the process may be efficiently decreased. 
         [0104]    It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described therein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other embodiments.