Method and materials for separating nucleic acid materials

Abstract

Nucleic acid material can be effectively separated from a fluid under mild conditions by the use of a positively charged polymer which binds the nucleic acid material. Disclosed is a novel positively charged polymer which may be employed in the separation process. This polymer comprises an acidified polyamine, such as polyethyleneimine which has been reacted with a nonacidified polyethyleneimine in a coupling reaction. The acidified polyethyleneimine may be a coarboxylated and/or sulfonated polyethyleneimine.

1 . A method for preparing a partially positively charged polyethyleneimine polymer, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first volume of a polyethyleneimine polymer;   reacting said first volume of polyethyleneimine polymer with an acidifying agent so as to produce an acidified polyethyleneimine;   providing a second volume of a polyethyleneimine polymer; and   reacting said second volume of polyethyleneimine with said acidified polyethyleneimine so as to couple at least some of said carboxylated polyethyleneimine to said polyethyleneimine of said second volume.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said acidifying agent is a carboxylating agent or a sulfonating agent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said acidifying agent is sodium chloroacetate. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first volume of polyethyleneimine and/or said second volume of polyethyleneimine has a molecular weight of approximately 400 to 200,000. 
     
     
         5 . A system for separating a nucleic acid material from a fluid, said system comprising:
 a positively charged polymer which is operative to bind said nucleic acid material; and   a releasing agent, said releasing agent comprising a solution of an alkaline material and a glycol, said solution having a pH of no more than 12, said agent being operative to cause said nucleic acid material to be released from said polymer.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said polyethyleneimine derivatized solid matrix material comprises a carboxylated polyethyleneimine polymer. 
     
     
         7 . A partially positively charged polyethyleneimine polymer comprising: a carboxylated polyethyleneimine polymer which has been reacted with a noncarboxylated polyethyleneimine polymer so as to couple said carboxylated polyethyleneimine polymer to said non carboxylated polyethyleneimine polymer.