What are the common methods of mRNA purification?

Common mRNA purification methods include magnetic beads, LiCl precipitation, and chromatography. LiCl precipitation is effective for purifying mRNA due to lithium chloride's ability to reduce electrostatic repulsion. It is also typically lower in cost due to the simplicity of the reagents and procedure. However, it may not work well for small RNAs like tRNA and can leave residual lithium ions that inhibit mRNA. It is also suitable for small to moderate scale preparations but may not be ideal for large-scale production. For higher specificity, magnetic beads with Oligo(dT) are designed to bind to the Poly(A) tails of mRNA, offering high purity by separating mRNA from other RNA types. Magnetic beads can also be readily adapted to automated systems and high-throughput workflows. Chromatography is ideal for large-scale mRNA preparation. Oligo-dT chromatography media can effectively capture mRNA with a poly-A tail and achieve a high yield during elution. Chromatography however requires specialized equipment and conditions.