Published on: 2026-10-16
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
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Student’s project Faculty of Natural Sciences of Novosibirsk State University (FEN NSU) Victoria Biryukova “Development of a highly specific platform based on magnetic nanoparticles for PCR diagnostics” supported by NSU startup studios became one of the winners of the “Student Startup” program. The implementation of their project will be carried out at the platform of the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICBFM SB RAS) under the scientific supervision of a Candidate of Chemical Sciences, senior researcher, head of the Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry at ICBFM SB RAS Elena Dmitrienko and junior research associate at LBMX IHBPM SB RAS Anastasia Bulgakova. The result of their work will be a prototype of a diagnostic kit for sample preparation and PCR testing, representing a set of reagents that laboratories use to detect diseases in patient biomaterials, such as blood and saliva. It is planned that the prototype of the diagnostic platform will be ready in 2027.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular diagnostic method that allows single molecules of nucleic acids to be amplified to billions of copies, making it possible to detect DNA and RNA of disease pathogens in biological material.
— Our development is based on the principle of molecular recognition combined with magnetic separation. While classical test systems work like a coarse sieve and collect all nucleic acid from the sample indiscriminately, our technology isolates only the target fragment. Special synthetic DNA strands — probes — are covalently attached to the surface of nanosized magnetic particles. Their key feature is their electroneutrality, which makes them more stable in biological samples than native probes and allows them to bind with target molecules under low ionic strength conditions, when intramolecular interactions of the target are weakened. The probes complementarily recognize the necessary sequence and bind firmly to it. As soon as the target molecule is fixed, the magnetic core of the nanoparticle comes into play. Just bringing a magnet close to the test tube causes all particles with the “captured” target to literally gather on the wall within a minute. All excess biological background (proteins, cellular debris, impurities) is simply washed away, and the pure target nucleic acid remains on the particles and is immediately sent for PCR. — explained Viktoria Biryukova.
A young researcher explained that traditional kits based on silica gel or membranes work like sticky tape — they collect everything indiscriminately: human nucleic acids, pathogens, and blood proteins which are inhibitors and block PCR conduction. To get rid of this biological ballast, lab technicians have to wash and filter the sample repeatedly. At each of these steps, the target genetic material is washed away and lost — up to half of the test tube’s contents. The cost of this mistake is a missed diagnosis. However, at the earliest stages of the disease, in the first days of infection or when searching for early markers of oncological diseases, literally only single molecules of target nucleic acids circulate in the blood. Losing half of them means getting a false negative result: the person is already ill, but the test says they are healthy, and precious time for therapy is lost.
The new development will also facilitate the work of diagnostic laboratories, which are hindered by multi-stage wash cycles requiring constant manual operations and do not allow the entire process to be transferred to fully automatic stations.
— The technology we are developing solves the problem of losses and analysis errors through a new type of probes based on phosphorylguanidine (PG) oligonucleotides developed at the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The novelty and uniqueness of our development lie precisely in the use of such PG probes for “capturing” the target and subsequent PCR analysis. Any patient sample contains enzymes — nucleases. Their natural function is to cut and destroy foreign DNA and RNA. Native probes are rapidly hydrolyzed by them during analysis. Chemical modification of PG probes makes them resistant to nucleases: they remain stable even in complex biological environments and reliably hold the target. Additionally, classic DNA probes carry a negative charge and work effectively only in high salt concentration solutions. The PG probes we develop are uncharged. This allows the reaction to be conducted in an environment with minimal salt content: under such conditions, interfering secondary structures of the target DNA/RNA are disrupted, and the uncharged probe binds freely and instantly to the open region of the target. — explained Viktoria Biryukova.
In her development, the young researcher implements the principle of “all-in-one tube” without transfers. In classic diagnostic kits, samples are repeatedly passed through filters in a centrifuge or washed manually with a series of buffers, and with each centrifugation cycle and tube change, part of the target DNA/RNA is inevitably lost. In the new system, particles after selective capture are held by a magnet against the tube wall, with sedimentation occurring very quickly — within up to 60 seconds. Then the nanoparticles are rapidly washed with a minimal volume of buffer to remove residual impurities, and the purified complex is immediately directed to PCR analysis.
At this stage, magnetic nanoparticles have already been synthesized, the methodology for probe immobilization has been developed, and selective target capture has been confirmed. Now it remains to develop amplification (PCR) on the nanoparticles.
The final product of this project will be a prototype diagnostic kit designed for 100 tests. It will include a nanoparticle suspension with probes, a set of buffer solutions (for washing impurities and releasing the purified target), oligonucleotides (primers) for PCR, a positive control sample to verify the correct functioning of the kit, as well as instructions for use. All of this will fit into a compact box. This kit is intended for use in clinical diagnostic laboratories, medical centers, and infectious screening services for rapid and highly accurate detection of disease agents (viruses, bacteria) or specific mutations in a patient’s biological material — blood, saliva, or swabs.
— Despite their innovative chemical structure, such probes are synthesized on standard DNA synthesizers. Their production does not require laboratory retooling or the creation of unique manufacturing lines, which allows maintaining the cost price of the finished kit at the level of standard reagents, — said Victoria Biryukova.
The project is supported by the Innovation Promotion Fund under the Student Startup program of the University Technology Entrepreneurship Platform event within the federal project “Technologies”.
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