Nucleofilt

Nucleofilt is a category of filtration-based methods used to purify nucleic acids from complex biological samples. The approach combines membrane-based size exclusion with charge interactions to retain DNA or RNA while allowing proteins, salts, and inhibitors to be washed away. It is not a single patented device but a family of disc-, cartridge-, and inline filtration formats used to prepare nucleic acids for downstream applications. Nucleofilt methods aim to be rapid, gentle on nucleic acids, and compatible with a range of sample types.

Operation typically involves applying a sample to a filtration device, using centrifugal or vacuum-driven flow to pass through the membrane, performing one or more wash steps, and eluting the nucleic acids with water or low-salt buffer. Membranes may be untreated, or functionalized for anionic, mixed-mode, or size-exclusion chemistries to improve selectivity for target nucleic acids.

Applications include isolation of genomic DNA, plasmid DNA, and total RNA from tissues or cells, as well as cleanup of nucleic acid extracts for polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, or library preparation. The method is valued for speed, relatively low cost, and scalability to low and high throughput formats.

Limitations and considerations include binding capacity limits, potential loss of very large DNA fragments, and the possibility of buffer carryover affecting downstream reactions. Protocol optimization is often required for different sample types, such as blood, tissue, or plant material.

Origin and usage: the term nucleofilt describes a class of filtration-based purification approaches rather than a single technology, and it appears in various commercial and academic contexts as an option alongside spin column and magnetic bead methods.