# Nanostructured Magnetic Disks for Wide Range Size Selection in NGS Library Preparation and PCR Purification

> **NIH NIH R44** · CIRCULOMICS, INC. · 2020 · $410,712

## Abstract

Project Summary
We proposed to develop Nanobind reaction purification and size selection methods for long-read sequencing
library preparation. These methods use our Nanobind magnetic disks to purify enzymatic reactions and to
enhance read lengths by removing short DNA during long-read sequencing library preparation. Nanobind disks
are small 1-5 mm diameter magnetic disks covered with a high density of micro- and nanostructured silica.
Compared to magnetic particles, Nanobind disks are extraordinarily gentle, preventing DNA shearing and
enabling high efficiency recovery of DNA surpassing megabase in length. We currently sell DNA extraction kits
that enable isolation of ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) megabase-sized DNA from a wide variety of sample
types. To evaluate how gentle the Nanobind reaction purifications are, we tested them in an ultra-long
sequencing protocol capable of generating 100 kb – 1+ Mb length reads. This method is capable of generating
extremely high read length N50 in the 100 – 200 kb range and 10 times more megabase reads than previous
ultra long methods. This supplement will allow additional development and sequencing tests on the Nanobind
ultra long sequencing protocols. Successful validation of the method on PromethION will lead to a significant
enhancement in data throughput and corresponding in reduction of cost, time, and manpower, enabling an
immediate impact via translation into projects such as the NHGRI pan-genome project and a long-term impact
by dramatically reducing the cost of ultra long sequencing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10212466
- **Project number:** 3R44GM134994-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** CIRCULOMICS, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Kelvin Liu
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $410,712
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-08-18 → 2021-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10212466

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10212466, Nanostructured Magnetic Disks for Wide Range Size Selection in NGS Library Preparation and PCR Purification (3R44GM134994-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10212466. Licensed CC0.

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