# Lab-in-Syringe Automated Miniaturized Bioconjugation of Magnetic Beads with Anti-SARS-CoV2 Antibodies

## TL;DR

This paper introduces an automated lab-in-syringe system for efficiently and consistently creating magnetic beads coated with anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies, improving on traditional manual methods.

## Contribution

The first automated, lab-in-syringe method for synthesizing magnetic immunosorbents with high reproducibility and efficiency.

## Key findings

- The LIS platform achieved 99.6% bead recovery, outperforming manual methods at 83%.
- MIS conjugated with anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies showed high immunocapture efficiency for viral RNA.
- The automated system enables scalable and reproducible bioconjugate synthesis for diagnostics and therapeutics.

## Abstract

We present the first automated synthesis of magnetic
immunosorbents
(MIS) using a lab-in-syringe (LIS) platform, facilitating antibody
bioconjugation to magnetic beads via carbodiimide-mediated covalent
binding. This approach is an efficient, reproducible alternative to
traditional manual methods, minimizing pipetting steps, vortexing,
and incubation with a reduced handling bias. Utilizing a 1 mL syringe
pump with a 12-port multiposition valve and an internal magnetic stir
bar enables precise mixing, bead dispersion, and magnetic capture
for consistent bioconjugate synthesis. The LIS platform achieved a
99.6% bead recovery with 0.4 mg of MIS (1 μm in diameter), outperforming
the 83% recovery of manual techniques, and maintained an 83% recovery
at reduced scales of 0.2 mg, surpassing manual yields of 76%. As a
proof-of-concept, MIS conjugated with anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies (6
μg/400 mg beads) were synthesized and validated for viral RNA
isolation from COVID-19-positive samples, demonstrating high immunocapture
efficiency comparable to manual methods but with significantly reduced
time and labor requirements. This automated synthesis of antibody-MIS
enables the scalable, reproducible production of bioconjugated materials,
supporting advanced applications in diagnostic assays, therapeutic
delivery, and microfluidic integrations. The LIS approach thus enhances
the scope of biomolecular conjugate synthesis, offering streamlined
workflows that are suited for downstream analytical and bioanalytical
applications. LIS is a versatile, automated system for preparing MIS
that researchers can adapt for various targets, particularly when
commercial products are unavailable, are prohibitively expensive,
or require custom carriers.