Applications of magnetic nanoparticles for nucleic acid extraction and analysis in biological and biomedical fields

Nucleic acids (NAs) are essential biomacromolecules that govern fundamental cellular processes. Advances in NA synthesis have accelerated research on their functions, therapeutic potential, and diagnostic applications, aided by increasingly sensitive detection technologies. NA research depends on purification methods that efficiently and accurately isolate NAs from diverse matrices. Conventional NA extraction methods are often time-consuming and labor-intensive and require skilled personnel, limiting practicality. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) enable efficient NA extraction and support simplified, automatable workflows. Performance depends primarily on MNP surface chemistry and binding-buffer composition, which together control selective NA capture and release from complex samples. Integration with automated platforms and miniaturized systems, including microfluidic chips, enables rapid, high-throughput NA analysis. Here, we review recent advances in MNP-based NA extraction from cells and biofluids, covering more than 100 studies published in the past five years. We first outline key physicochemical properties of core MNPs that govern NA binding efficiency, including magnetization and particle size. We then provide a comparative analysis of MNP platforms according to their surface modification strategies and lysis/binding chemistries, highlighting differences in extraction performance such as yield, purity, and processing time. In addition, we summarize emerging automated and microfluidic systems that integrate MNPs, many of which enable high-throughput sample processing, reduce reagent consumption, and shorten overall workflow duration compared with conventional extraction methods. Finally, we discuss future directions for the rational design of next-generation MNPs and integrated systems, emphasizing remaining challenges and opportunities for translating these high-performance extraction technologies into clinical and biomedical applications.