Fluorescence Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles Using Single-Molecule Confocal Microscopy.

ABSTRACT: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, membrane-bound particles released by cells into the extracellular environment. They play a pivotal role in cell communication and have recently gained prominence as biomarkers. However, their low abundance and high heterogeneity challenge their accurate characterization using conventional approaches. To enable the specific detection of individual EVs, EV-specific antibodies labeled with two different fluorophores are coupled with fast-flow microfluidics and single-molecule confocal microscopy. This allows for the determine the concentration of EVs down to sub-femtomolar levels (≈10⁷ EVs mL^-1), and the approach demonstrates the capacity to detect EVs even in the presence of other lipid vesicles. The ability to quantify EVs in ser

SUBMITTER: Zhao T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12464666 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature