Fluorescent, phosphorescent, magnetic resonance contrast and radioactive tracer labelling of extracellular vesicles

Abstract

This review focusses on the significance of fluorescent, phosphorescent labelling and tracking of extracellular vesicles (EVs) for unravelling their biology, pathophysiology, and potential diagnostic and therapeutic uses.

Tetranuclear Polypyridylruthenium(II) Complexes as Selective Nucleic Acid Stains for Flow Cytometric Analysis of Monocytic and Epithelial Lung Carcinoma Large Extracellular Vesicles

“…Selective staining of intact EVs remains a challenge to understand their biological roles, including physiological and pathological functions, clinical potential, and the intracellular fate of their molecular components [ 7 , 9 , 10 ]. Current fluorescent EV staining strategies have limitations, including low selectivity and throughput [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…Selective staining of intact EVs remains a challenge to understand their biological roles, including physiological and pathological functions, clinical potential, and the intracellular fate of their molecular components [ 7 , 9 , 10 ]. Current fluorescent EV staining strategies have limitations, including low selectivity and throughput [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. For instance, prevailing fluorescent and other labeling or staining strategies for isolated EVs utilize lipid membrane-, surface protein-, luminal-, nucleic acid-, radionuclide-, and quantum dot (QD)-labels for visualization and characterization of EVs [ 10 , 14 ].…”

“…Current fluorescent EV staining strategies have limitations, including low selectivity and throughput [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. For instance, prevailing fluorescent and other labeling or staining strategies for isolated EVs utilize lipid membrane-, surface protein-, luminal-, nucleic acid-, radionuclide-, and quantum dot (QD)-labels for visualization and characterization of EVs [ 10 , 14 ]. Staining of isolated EVs with fluorescent lipophilic membrane dyes is very simple to perform but generally lacks selectivity and specificity [ 10 , 15 ].…”

“…For instance, prevailing fluorescent and other labeling or staining strategies for isolated EVs utilize lipid membrane-, surface protein-, luminal-, nucleic acid-, radionuclide-, and quantum dot (QD)-labels for visualization and characterization of EVs [ 10 , 14 ]. Staining of isolated EVs with fluorescent lipophilic membrane dyes is very simple to perform but generally lacks selectivity and specificity [ 10 , 15 ]. Surface protein labeling promotes more selective staining of EVs than lipid membrane labeling; however, the conjugation of fluorescent protein labels can similarly influence interactions of EVs with recipient cells [ 10 , 16 ].…”

“…Staining of isolated EVs with fluorescent lipophilic membrane dyes is very simple to perform but generally lacks selectivity and specificity [ 10 , 15 ]. Surface protein labeling promotes more selective staining of EVs than lipid membrane labeling; however, the conjugation of fluorescent protein labels can similarly influence interactions of EVs with recipient cells [ 10 , 16 ]. For luminal labeling, it is still not established whether all classes of EVs contain esterase activity [ 10 , 17 ].…”