Integrated Extraction-Preservation Strategies for RNA Using Biobased Ionic Liquids

The ubiquitous instability of RNA along with issues associated with its purity degree have been preventing its widespread use as low-cost biotherapeutics. On the basis of the well-known capacity of amino acids to specifically interact with RNA when used as chromatographic ligands, a set of amino-acid-based ionic liquids (AA-ILs) was herein investigated, both to act as preservation media and as phase-forming agents of aqueous biphasic systems (ABS). This set of strategies was combined with the goal of developing integrated extraction-preservation platforms. AA-ILs comprising the cholinium cation and anions derived from l-lysine ([Ch][Lys]), l-arginine ([Ch][Arg]), l-glutamic acid ([Ch][Glu]), and dl-aspartic acid ([Ch][Asp]) were studied. It is shown that the stability of RNA is preserved in aqueous solutions of the studied AA-ILs, even in the presence of ribonucleases (RNases). Furthermore, almost all the investigated AA-ILs display no cytotoxicity onto two distinct human cell lines. After identifying the most promising ILs, ABS formed by AA-ILs and polypropylene glycol with a molecular weight of 400 g mol–1 (PPG 400) were investigated as extraction and purification platforms for RNA. Both with pure RNA and bacterial lysate samples, RNA is successfully extracted to the IL-rich phase without compromising its integrity and stability. On the basis of these results, the integrated extraction-preservation process for RNA is finally demonstrated. RNA is initially extracted from the bacterial lysate sample using ABS, after which the IL-rich phase can be used as the preservation medium of RNA up to its use. RNA can be then recovered from the IL-rich phase by ethanol precipitation, and the ABS phase-forming components recovered and reused. Although improvements in the purity level of RNA are still required, the approach here reported represents a step forward in the development of sustainable processes to overcome the critical demand of high-quality/high-purity RNA to be used as biotherapeutics.