When it comes to cleaning labware for reuse, not all residues are created equal. Buffers and reagents can be tough enough to remove, but genomic material, like DNA and RNA, is in a league of its own. These molecules cling tightly to plastic surfaces, and even trace amounts can jeopardize the integrity of downstream assays.

At IonField Systems, we rely on a cleaning process that harnesses one of nature’s most reactive cleaning agents: the hydroxyl ion (OH⁻). Here’s why it’s so effective, and why it’s central to our plasma cleaning technology.

What Makes Hydroxyl Ions So Reactive?

Hydroxyl ions are short-lived but highly energetic species formed when oxygen and hydrogen interact under plasma conditions. Because they’re missing a hydrogen atom, they’re chemically “hungry” — eager to bond with almost anything they touch.

When these ions come into contact with organic residues, including genomic material, they react instantly. They initiate reactions that break down DNA, RNA, and proteins into harmless fragments like CO₂ and H₂O. The result? Surfaces that are not just visibly clean, but molecularly clean.

Breaking the DNA Bond

DNA molecules are remarkably sticky. The phosphate backbone and base pairs readily form electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions with plastic surfaces. Traditional washing or chemical decontamination can remove surface material but often leaves behind fragments of nucleic acids that can contaminate future runs.

Hydroxyl ions work differently. They don’t just wash off contaminants—they oxidize and fragment them. This molecular “cutting” process severs the bonds that hold DNA together, effectively erasing its biological identity. What’s left behind is inert organic residue that’s easily removed by continuous plasma flow.

Perfectly Paired with Plasma

Inside IonField Systems’ cleaning stations, hydroxyl ions are generated as part of a low-temperature plasma field. The plasma energizes oxygen and water vapor in the air, creating a stream of reactive species, including hydroxyl ions and ozone, that together deliver powerful cleaning without heat damage.

Because our system moves plasma up and through the pipette tip or down into the wells of a microplate, these reactive ions can reach interior surfaces that liquid cleaning methods simply can’t touch. That’s how we’re able to remove even stubborn genomic residues. 

Clean Enough for the Next Experiment

In modern labs, reuse only works if the science is protected. Hydroxyl ions help make that possible by ensuring every tip and plate is not just clean, but free from the molecular ghosts of past experiments. That’s the level of assurance IonField Systems builds into every cycle of our plasma cleaning systems.

In short: Hydroxyl ions are small, reactive, and relentless—exactly what you want when the goal is total removal of genomic contamination.