
Superparamagnetic Beads
RayBiotech Superparamagnetic Beads are magnetic, non-aggregating iron oxide particles (or 'microspheres') for sample prep, or for capturing / purifying (SPRI: Solid Phase Reversible Immobilization) targets such as proteins, antibodies, DNA/RNA (direct, or via ChIP, RIP, or CLIP), and E. coli. The bead's design enables faster binding kinetics, with high sensitivity & selectivity, in both manual and automated biomedical and research applications.
There are many types of superparamagnetic beads available including:
- Biotin: beads coupled with Biotin and utilized for the isolation of avidin and streptavidin-labeled components.
- Amine: beads with amine surface groups that allow covalent bond formation to proteins/peptides via primary amine, carboxy or thiol groups. Oligonucleotides, antibodies or other ligands with these groups can be easily coupled to the beads. They exhibit high binding capacity and low non-specific binding of protein or nucleic acids.
- Protein A or G: beads with a monolayer of protein A or G that is covalently coupled to the surface utilized for the binding of IgG, primarily for the isolation of antibodies from serum, cell culture supernatants, or ascites.
- Streptavidin: beads covalently coupled with Streptavidin and utilized for the isolation of biotinylated nucleic acids, antibodies, or other biotinylated ligands and targets.
- Activated (Maleimide, NHS): the maleimide or NHS activated surface of these beads allows covalent bond formation to proteins/peptides via amine(NH2) or thiol (SH) groups. Oligonucleotides, antibodies or other ligands with these groups can be easily coupled to the beads. The high binding capacity and low non-specific binding are ideal for protein or nucleic acids.
- IgG: IgG coupled beads utilized for the isolation of antibodies from serum or other sample matrices.
- Silanol: beads with an optimized silica coating and large surface area, providing efficient kinetics, high sensitivity and high selectivity in isolation of nucleic acid from biological samples in both manual and automated applications.
We also offer superparamagnetic bead kits, which include all liquid reagents needed to perform manual purifications using a magnetic separator (not included with the kit) using a step-by-step protocol that is easy to follow and includes suggested modifications that can be made to better suit your experiment. View all our magnetic bead kits here .
Magnetic bead separators (or magnetic holders) feature rare-earth magnets embedded in plastic housing, and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate tubes, flasks, and plates of different sizes and quantities. They can be used alone or in conjunction with the magnetic bead kits.

How It Works
Target specific magnetic beads are incubated with the sample solution and then separated by magnets. After the unbound particulates are washed from the beads, the bound molecules are eluted from the beads using the elution buffer. The beads are then magnetically separated from the eluted solution, and the eluted molecules are removed manually

Representative Data
Spectrophotometric curve of high-purity DNA purified from 15 mg of mouse brain tissue using the Genomic DNA Magnetic Bead Kit standard protocol

Features
- Uniform size of 0.5 µm
- Non-porous beads
- Small size and irregular surface allows for increased surface area for binding target molecule
- Ferric oxide core functionalized with various silane groups
- Strong magnetic response (3 min to collect at magnet). Allows for use in viscous samples
- Kits and Separators available