It is estimated that the global magnetic beads market size will record substantial gains through 2027. Over the past several years, magnetic beads have emerged as a powerful tool for a range of research development projects in the biomedical sector. The coupling of magnetic characteristics with specific ligands present in these beads lead to the separation and purification of cells, nucleic acid, proteins, and other molecules in a highly specific and efficient manner.

In addition to its usage for bio-separation in research, magnetic beads find wide application in other medical applications including targeted drug delivery, MRI, diagnostics, and targeted destruction of tumor cells via intercellular hyperthermia. Based on the type, the magnetic beads industry is bifurcated into nucleic acid, cells & microbes, proteins, and others.

The proteins segment is projected to witness a robust CAGR of around 13.5% up to 2027. Growing application of protein based magnetic beads owing numerous advantages will drive their demand over the coming years.

In November 2019, a team of researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory had developed new synthetic peptoid-coated magnetic beads for the detection of misfolded proteins present in the blood sample. Misfolded proteins have been associated with a range of chronic diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and prion diseases.

To date, it has been difficult to detect misfolded proteins in the patient’s blood sample as they are present in very small quantities and closely resemble correctly folded proteins. The new magnetic beads can bind to specific misfolded proteins in blood samples, enabling rapid and convenient diagnosis of diseases caused by misfolded proteins.

In terms of the applications, the magnetic beads market can be segmented into IVD assay development, cell separation & expansion, exome analysis, nucleic acid isolation, protein sample preparation, protein purification, antibody purification, immunoprecipitation, and others.

The IVD assay development application segment had captured a market share of around 5% in terms of revenue during 2020 and it is likely to grow substantially in the future. Magnetic beads have gained wide acceptance in in-vitro diagnostics assay development on account of high reliability and versatility.

Considering the end-user, the magnetic beads industry share from research labs had generated more than US$570 million in 2020 and it is estimated to witness notable growth over the coming years. The global rise in the number of patients suffering from various chronic and infectious diseases had led to increased research and development activities worldwide.

From a geographical point of view, the magnetic beads market in Latin America is projected to expand at a robust 13.5% CAGR over 2021-2027. The regional market growth can be attributed to the increasing occurrence of various diseases and the rising consumer awareness regarding the numerous treatment options available for their treatment.