Magnetic bead technology for collecting biomolecules is becoming increasingly popular in the life sciences field.
Image credit: Sepmag
The use of magnetic beads in chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA) and molecular diagnostic tests has rapidly increased the sensitivity and automation of these fields. This has increased the utility and feasibility of these tests in clinical and diagnostic settings.
Due to the large number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests performed during the COVID-19 pandemic, magnetic beads were frequently used to facilitate immunoaffinity purification.
Magnetic beads provided reliable assistance during the production of RNA-based vaccines, resulting in a faster and more efficient process. Similarly, several biotech companies are considering magnetic purification as a way to improve downstream processes, especially for proteins isolated from impure raw suspensions.
Much of this success can be attributed to the ability of magnetic beads to move during biomolecule capture. However, when a magnetic force is applied, it becomes immobile instantly.
This degree of control is not achievable with other commonly used methods and techniques, making processing of biological suspensions using magnetic bead technology easier and more precise.
However, with the advent of new applications of magnetic bead technology, many scientists have been exposed to magnetic separation technology for the first time, but there are some typical challenges that new users often encounter.
Additionally, many new users, after successfully employing magnetic bead-based biomolecule separations at the research and development (R&D) scale, face challenges when attempting to scale up to larger-scale manufacturing processes. The unique characteristics of magnetic bead technology compared to other technologies make these scale-up efforts particularly difficult for new entrants.
In the areas of reagent manufacturing and product purification, technical staff are responsible for standardization, safety, quality control, and protocol scale-up. Scientists must have advanced skills to develop robust protocols that take into account various factors such as bead surface chemistry, batch volume and concentration, buffer composition, and incubation time and temperature.
However, scientists who are not familiar with important magnetic properties may overlook important parameters required for magnetic separation protocols, jeopardizing the success of the process. This oversight can make reproduction or scale-up from an initial small-scale protocol extremely complex and often creates bottlenecks in R&D departments during the transition to production.
Magnetic bead separation process. Magnetic beads coated with ligand capture target molecules. When the suspension is introduced into a magnetic separator, the magnetic beads (with captured target molecules) are immobilized within seconds and the supernatant is completely removed. Image credit: Sepmag
Well-defined magnetic separation protocols have been used for over 15 years. in vitro Manufacturing of diagnostic (IVD) reagents and manufacturing of magnetic beads. This allows manufacturers to effectively scale up batch sizes from milliliters to tens of liters.
By incorporating several key magnetic concepts, it will be possible to successfully exploit magnetic bead technology on a large scale.
With this knowledge, scientists can comprehensively characterize and validate magnetic separation procedures, allowing them to standardize magnetic separation conditions and develop reliable protocols that can be easily transferred to larger quantities.
About Sepmag 
Sepmag develops smart, scalable magnetic bead separation equipment for the international diagnostic market and users of magnetic bead separation technology.
Sepmag's innovative smart and scalable magnetic bead separator provides unparalleled control and efficiency across all volumes, prevents bead clumping, minimizes material loss, and monitors and records for quality control purposes. Designed to hold and maximize safety.
These benefits can be applied to a variety of laboratory environments, from research and development facilities to large-scale production processes. Sepmag is based in Barcelona and sells in North America, Europe and Asia.
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