DNA/RNA isolation has increasingly become an essential step in many modern life science processes. One company answering the call is Japan-based Ferrotec, a leading manufacturer of magnetic liquids that recently established a life sciences division to encompass its expanding portfolio in magnetic nanoparticle and separations technology. Founded in 1980 on a technology core of FerroFluid magnetic liquid and Ferrofluidic sealing products, the corporate headquarters are in Tokyo with a North America headquarters in Livermore, California.
In April, it launched its latest product, the Ferrobeads Quick Nucleic Acid (DNA/RNA) Isolation Kit. For research laboratory professionals, the company’s Ferrobeads offer high-efficiency nucleic acid extraction with exceptional binding efficiency that is compatible with both manual and automated workflows. Traditional isolation methods can be time-consuming, require significant technical skill and often deliver variable yields. Meanwhile, many commercial magnetic bead solutions lock users into rigid workflows that depend on proprietary instruments which can add cost and complexity to a lab. Multiple reaction sizes allow scaling to match throughput requirements without impacting costs.
“Ferrotec’s Ferrobeads leverage our rich history in developing from breakthrough applications that use ferrofluid technology derived from the NASA space program. The silica-coated magnetic Ferrobeads offer a large surface area, combined with high magnetic content, which helps provide superior binding and higher recovery for DNA and RNA,” said Dr. Sadaf Khan, general manager for Ferrotec’s Life Sciences Business Group. “We believe great molecular results start with good sample preparation. Our sample prep kits are designed to deliver dependable, high-quality nucleic acid isolation, helping laboratories build confidence in every result,” said Khan, who is located in California.
Used for research only, Ferrobeads can be used for extraction from cell cultures, plant tissue, non-plant tissue and blood sample types. They deliver high-purity DNA and RNA extraction in 10 to 25 minutes, depending upon whether the process is run on an automated system or manually. The DNA/RNA Isolation kits include a lysis buffer, a wash buffer, beads and an elution buffer. They are produced in 100 and 500 prep options.
To support the company’s Ferrobeads and its expanding offering in molecular biology workflows, the company has established the Life Sciences Business Unit. Built on the company’s magnetic nanoparticle technology, it develops sample preparation kits and automated instruments for nucleic acid isolation.
Ferrofluidic Vacuum Seals
The core products at Ferrotec are its vacuum seals which use ferrofluid to enable transmission of rotational movement into the vacuum atmosphere. Used in manufacturing semiconductors, flat panel displays, LEDs and solar cells, they enable the etching and deposition processes of semiconductor wafers, as well as in the rotary mechanisms of delivery robots for FPD panels, isolating the sealed space from the outside, while precisely transmitting the necessary power for processing.
In the 1970s, engineers at Ferrotec pioneered a revolutionary approach to a common mechanical problem, creating a dynamic, hermetic seal for rotating mechanisms. Using Ferrofluid to create a liquid o-ring around a rotating shaft, they patented the first Ferrofluidic seals which quickly became the gold standard for demanding precision sealing and rotation applications.
Last year, Ferrotec broke ground on its second high-tech manufacturing facility in Malaysia at Kulim, Kedah, with an investment of $226 million. Bringing its total manufacturing investment there to about $460 million. Equipped for electromechanical assembly and advanced material fabrication, the operation serves primarily the semiconductor industry across Asia, Europe and the Americas. The new Kulim Factory #2 will span nearly 1 million square feet across 20 acres and feature over 700 CNC machines, smart production lines and IoT-enabled systems. See www.ferrotec.com.
