γ-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 nanocomposites functionalized with Graphene Oxides for biological applications
Nucleic acid extraction methods are fundamental tools for the diagnosis and study of
diseases. In this sense, the extraction and purification technology using magnetic
nanoparticles is appropriate, since they allow their efficient isolation from biological
suspensions. In this work, we report an alternative method using graphene oxide
functionalized as magnetic beads to extract RNA of Rabies Virus (RABV). The BHK-21 cells
infected with Pasteur Virus (PV) were used. The Fe2O3
/Fe3O4nanocomposites were
synthesized by microwave-assisted combustion, then their surface was modified with silica
using the Stöber method and functionalized with graphene oxide (GO) to obtain a material
that was evaluated as a possible viral RNA extractor. The results of X-ray diffraction and
VSM spectroscopy revealed that it was possible to obtain magnetic composite, the
modification of their surface and functionalization reduced the saturation but maintained
their magnetic properties. Thermogravimetry’s analysis revealed that the material is
thermal stable. The GO nanocomposites were used in the extraction methods and the
efficiency was measured by RNA quantification using a spectrophotometer. The success of
the method with GO was determined with RT-PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis.
Graphene oxide had a promising interaction with the nanocomposites which improved the
quantity of RNA material extracted, showing these systems as a low cost and high efficiency
alternative which makes this material a potential method for viral RNA extraction