New Magnetic Technology for Bioseparations and Studies of Biomolecular Interactions

AMSBIO announces MagSi-Direct - a revolutionary technology that brings the power, simplicity, and convenience of magnetic separation to researchers involved in cell biology, protein chemistry, flow cytometry, diagnostics development and many other fields.

MagSi-Direct provides a convenient and efficient way to attach virtually any biomolecule to nanoscopic paramagnetic beads.  It is particularly suited for exploiting interactions between a biomolecule and its binding partners.  With MagSi-Direct, you can start with a molecule of interest, attach magnetic beads to it, and then use a magnet to isolate that molecule from any desired reaction mixture, together with any other molecules, complexes, or even intact cells to which the starting molecule has bound.  In effect, the starting molecule is converted into a magnetic affinity reagent, or "bait", which can be used to purify, isolate, or characterize the partners with which it interacts.

MagSi-Direct beads attach to the starting molecule via strong coordinate bonds between the surface of the bead and any electron donating group on your molecule (carboxyl, amide, 1°, 2°, 3° amine, hydroxyl, phosphate, halogen etc).  Molecular orientation is non-specific and random.  Consequently, within a population of beads, all possible orientations of the starting molecule will be represented and available for interactions with other molecules, complexes or cells.

Because magnetic separation technology is gentle and does not involve harsh chemicals or conditions, MagSi-Direct opens up new avenues for isolating, purifying, or characterizing cells that interact with specific ligands.  Magnetic "bait" reagents may be constructed from proteins, cytokines, carbohydrates, pharmaceuticals, aptamers, or nearly any other class of molecule.  MagSi-Direct is much more flexible, much more convenient, and considerably less expensive than alternative antibody-based or biotin-based technologies.