Efficient Labeling of Vesicles with Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes via the Salt-Change Method.

ABSTRACT: Fluorescent labeling allows for imaging and tracking of vesicles down to single-particle level. Among several options to introduce fluorescence, staining of lipid membranes with lipophilic dyes provides a straightforward approach without interfering with vesicle content. However, incorporating lipophilic molecules into vesicle membranes in an aqueous solution is generally not efficient because of their low water solubility. Here, we describe a simple, fast (<30 min), and highly effective procedure for fluorescent labeling of vesicles including natural extracellular vesicles. By adjusting the ionic strength of the staining buffer with NaCl, the aggregation status of DiI, a representative lipophilic tracer, can be controlled reversibly. Using cell-derived vesicles as a model system, we show

SUBMITTER: Cha M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10100391 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature