Chemical removal of free DNA/RNA using nitric oxide gas treatment

Overview

This technology offers a chemical approach to removing free (extracellular) DNA and RNA from samples using nitric oxide (NO) gas. Free nucleic acids in food materials, environmental samples, or biological matrices can interfere with downstream analyses, pose detection challenges, or contribute to false signals in molecular diagnostics. By bubbling nitric oxide gas through a sample, the nitrogenous bases of DNA and RNA undergo nitration reactions that ultimately convert the genetic material into inert gaseous byproducts such as nitrous oxide and dinitrogen. This provides a simple, reagent-based alternative to enzymatic degradation methods such as DNase/RNase treatment.

The approach is grounded in prior research demonstrating that nitric oxide, generated from the abiotic decomposition of nitrite under acidic conditions, reacts with organic nitrogen compounds to produce dinitrogen gas. By supplying nitric oxide gas directly, the same conversion chemistry can be applied to nucleic acids in virtually any sample matrix, broadening the range of practical applications.

Technical specifications

Core chemistry:

• Nitric oxide gas reacts with nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil) in DNA and RNA
• Reaction products are gaseous nitrous oxide (N₂O) and dinitrogen (N₂), leaving no residual nucleic acid fragments
• Treatment is delivered by bubbling NO gas through aqueous samples containing free DNA/RNA
• Applicable across a range of sample matrices, including buffered solutions and food materials

Potential applications:

• Removal of extracellular DNA/RNA from food products prior to microbial analysis or pathogen detection
• Sample preparation for molecular diagnostics where background nucleic acid contamination is problematic
• Environmental monitoring workflows requiring clean separation of intracellular versus extracellular genetic material
• Research laboratories seeking alternatives to enzymatic nucleic acid removal

Technology readiness level

The underlying chemistry of nitric oxide reacting with organic nitrogen compounds under acidic conditions has been previously published. However, the specific reaction of nitric oxide gas with DNA and RNA has not yet been experimentally validated. The next stage of development involves preparing DNA and RNA solutions at varying concentrations, treating them with nitric oxide gas, and measuring concentration changes before and after exposure. If initial laboratory tests confirm the hypothesis, validation will extend to food materials, where DNA/RNA will be extracted before and after NO gas treatment and bacterial cultivation will be performed to assess impact on microbial viability. The technology is currently at an early proof-of-concept stage, ready for collaborative research to advance experimental validation.