A simple, small scale non-hazardous procedure for the production of ma
gnetizable solid-phase support (MSPS) beads has been developed based o
n the extrusion of agarose/iron oxide mixtures. The MSPS beads were de
rivatized using various amine ligands. Derivatized MSPS beads were use
d to adsorb nucleic acids from aqueous solution and to separate RNA/DN
A mixtures.