Novel devices for isolation and detection of bacterial and mammalian extracellular vesicles

Extracellular vesicles are spherical nanoparticles inherently released by almost all cell types. They acquire the cell’s membrane and cytoplasmic characteristics offering abundant identical units that can be captured to recognize the cell of origin. The abundance of vital cell information and multifunctional roles in cellular processes has rendered them attention, particularly as promising biomarkers for disease diagnosis and use in potential drug delivery systems.

Researchers from the University of Newcastle provide insights into standard approaches towards cultivation and isolation of mammalian and bacterial extracellular vesicles. They assess gaps in conventional separation and detection technologies while also tracking developments in ongoing research. Their discussion focuses on highlighting alternative state-of-the-art microfluidic devices that offer avenues for fast, cost-effective, precision-oriented capture and sensing of extracellular vesicles. Combining different detection technologies on an integrated “lab-on-a-chip” system has the prospective to provide customizable opportunities for clinical use of extracellular vesicles in disease diagnostics and therapeutic applications.