Titanium dioxide-based materials for isolation and purification of clinically significant RNAs

Abstract

This doctoral thesis deals with the application of the titanium dioxide-based materials in extraction and purification of clinically significant RNA molecules. This work focuses mainly on microRNAs and viral RNAs. MicroRNAs are studied as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of various pathological processes. Viral RNAs became a current topic in recent years due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, which escalated the development of more rapid and affordable detection methods. RNA extraction and detection methods are constantly required to evolve with the new knowledge about RNAs and the novelty micro- and nanomaterials are now being introduced in these methods due to their unique characteristics. This thesis also deals with the current topic of safety of the newly developed materials. The evaluation of cytotoxicity proved to be more complex matter than previously expected and therefore needs to be addressed.