Apparatus, system and method for purifying nucleic acids

Abstract

Methods and devices for isolating nucleic acids from a mixture containing such nucleic acids and extraneous matter are provided. In one embodiment, the method of the invention comprises passing the mixture through a glass frit under conditions effective to separate the nucleic acids from the extraneous matter. In a more specific embodiment, the glass frit is a sintered glass frit.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A device for isolating nucleic acids from a mixture containing such nucleic acids and extraneous matter, comprising:
 a hollow chamber having disposed therein a first glass frit and a second glass frit, wherein said first glass frit and said second glass frit bind to nucleic acids and are fused together to form a substantially monolithic structure, wherein said first glass frit and second glass frit are rigid, self-supporting fits and are not modified with a material with nucleic acid affinity.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said first glass frit and said second glass frit have different porosity. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said first glass frit has a pore size of about 40 micron to about 60 micron and said second glass frit has a pore size of about 10 micron to about 15 micron. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein each of said first glass frit and said second glass frit has a thickness of 1-20 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein each of said first glass frit and said second glass frit has a thickness of about 5 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein each of said first glass fit and said second glass frit has a diameter of about 5 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said device is in the form of a pipet tip. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said device is in the form of a pipet tip having a pipet tip inlet for withdrawing a sample into said pipet tip. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein said first glass frit has pore size that is larger than the pore size of said second frit and wherein said first glass frit is disposed closer to said pipet inlet than said second glass frit. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein said first glass fit has a pore size of about 40 micron to about 60 micron and said second glass frit has a pore size of about 10 micron to about 15 micron. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said first glass frit and said second glass frit have a pore size between about 2 microns and about 220 microns. 
     
     
         37 . A method for purifying nucleic acids from a sample, comprising:
 passing a sample through the device according to  claim 26 ;   washing said device with a washing buffer; and   eluting nucleic acids from said device with an elution buffer.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said first glass frit and said second glass frit have different porosity. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said first glass fit has a pore size of about 40 micron to about 60 micron and said second glass frit has a pore size of about 10 micron to about 15 micron. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein each of said first glass fit and said second glass frit has a thickness of 1-20 mm. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein said device is in the form of a pipet tip. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said device is in the form of a pipet tip having a pipet tip inlet for withdrawing a sample into said pipet tip. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein said first glass frit has pore size that is larger than the pore size of said second frit and wherein said first glass frit is disposed closer to said pipet inlet than said second glass frit. 
     
     
         44 . A method for purifying microbial DNA from a human sample, comprising:
 (a) passing said sample through a first glass frit having a pore size of about 40 micron to about 60 micron to deplete human genomic DNA from said sample;   (b) passing a flow-through from step (a) through a second glass frit having a pore size of about 10 micron to about 15 micron;   (c) eluting microbial DNA from said second glass fit,   wherein said first glass frit and second glass fit are rigid, self-supporting frits and are not modified with a material with nucleic acid affinity.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said human sample is a blood sample.