Phenylpropyl Guanidinium Magnetic Ionic Liquid for Green and Selective Extraction of RNA

A phenylpropyl guanidinium magnetic ionic liquid (PGMIL) was designed and prepared to extract RNA from complex samples. The properties of PGMIL were characterized by a vibrating sample magnetometer, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, thermogravimetric analyzer, transmission electron microscope, and scanning electron microscope. Through single-factor analysis, the factors affecting the RNA extraction process, such as PGMIL volume, temperature, extraction time, and pH, were systematically investigated. The ability of PGMIL to selectively extract RNA was investigated by a NanoDrop. Under the optimized conditions, the extraction efficiency of RNA can reach 81.9 ± 1.9%. The proposed extraction method has been demonstrated with the extraction of RNA from a series of complex sample matrices, including a metal ion mixture and medicinal yeast. After extraction, the retained RNA could be readily recovered by simply using Tris-HCl buffer, with a recovery rate of 68.11 ± 2.45%. Regeneration studies have shown that the extraction efficiency of PGMIL did not change significantly after using 4 times. This study provides a green, rapid, and environmental friendly extraction method for the selective extraction of RNA.