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Background:
Current methods for isolating and analyzing extracellular vesicles (EVs) from plasma face significant challenges in achieving adequate purification from abundant plasma proteins, limiting their utility for biomarker discovery and disease diagnosis. Traditional isolation methods often co-isolate protein aggregates and other non-vesicular particles, confounding downstream analyses. The heterogeneous nature of EVs in plasma, combined with their low abundance relative to plasma proteins, makes it difficult to obtain pure populations suitable for proteomic analysis. These limitations hinder the development of EV-based diagnostic tests and therapeutic applications.
Technical Overview:
Northeastern researchers have developed an innovative charge-based fractionation method for isolating and characterizing extracellular vesicles from plasma samples. This approach enables the separation of distinct EV subpopulations based on their surface charge properties, providing enhanced purification and characterization capabilities. The method combines optimized fractionation protocols with advanced proteomic analysis techniques to generate comprehensive profiles of EV-associated proteins. The system reduces contamination from plasma proteins while preserving EV integrity and functionality.
Benefits:
- Enables high-resolution separation of EV subpopulations based on surface charge
- Improves purification efficiency compared to conventional methods
- Reduces plasma protein contamination in EV preparations
- Preserves EV integrity and native protein composition
- Facilitates discovery of EV-specific biomarkers
Application:
- Early Disease Detection: Enabling improved identification of disease-specific biomarkers
- Clinical Diagnostics: Developing EV-based diagnostic tests for various diseases
- Therapeutic Monitoring: Tracking treatment responses through EV analysis
- Biomarker Discovery: Identifying novel protein biomarkers in EV populations
Opportunity:
- License
- Research collaboration
