Extracellular Vesicles: Techniques and Biomedical Applications Related to Single Vesicle Analysis

A Panorama of Extracellular Vesicle Applications: From Biomarker Detection to Therapeutics

“…Single EV analysis techniques can assess aspects of heterogeneity of EV subpopulations (e.g., size and composition), detect EV biomarkers present at a low concentration in complex specimens, and detect the association of specific EV biomarkers on single EVs or EV subpopulations, all of which could provide information about disease development and progression or treatment responses that would now be detectable in EV analysis performed across complex samples. Single EV analysis approaches employ a variety of techniques, several of which do not require the use of exogeneous labels (Figure ), including nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and laser-tweezer Raman spectroscopy approaches . However, many of these approaches provide limited information when used in a label-free manner or are not useful without independent EV isolation procedures.…”

“…Single EV analysis approaches employ a variety of techniques, several of which do not require the use of exogeneous labels ( Figure 2 ), including nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and laser-tweezer Raman spectroscopy approaches. 24 However, many of these approaches provide limited information when used in a label-free manner or are not useful without independent EV isolation procedures. Label-free approaches that employ NTA can only provide estimates of the distribution of EV diameters in a population, while cryo-EM and AFM methods can also provide some information about the distribution of their conformational phenotypes, and all three methods can have difficulty discriminating EVs from protein aggregates and viruses that may contaminate EV isolate fractions.…”

Beyond Traditional Medicine: EVs-Loaded Hydrogels as a Game Changer in Disease Therapeutics

“…In addition to accurate drug release and targeted treatment in disease treatment, EVs-loaded hydrogels are also useful in the fundamental research in life science, such as intercellular interactions, signal transmission, molecular communication, etc. [ 217 , 218 ].…”

Engineered Extracellular Vesicles in Chronic Kidney Diseases: A Comprehensive Review

“…Advanced characterization techniques, such as single-vesicle analysis and RNA sequencing, are revolutionizing our understanding of EV composition and function, paving the way for personalized medicine. 102 The concept of tailoring EV therapies to individual patients based on their unique genetic makeup holds immense potential, potentially transforming treatment approaches and enhancing clinical outcomes. Additionally, the integration of EV therapies with other cutting-edge technologies, including gene editing and CRISPR technology, presents exciting possibilities.…”