Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are heavily implicated in diverse pathological processes. Due to their small size, distinct biogenesis, and heterogeneous marker expression, isolation and detection of single EV subpopulations are difficult. Here, we develop a λ-DNAand aptamer-mediated approach allowing for simultaneous size-selective separation and surface protein analysis of individual EVs. Using a machine learning algorithm to EV signature based on their size and marker expression, we demonstrate that the isolated microvesicles are more efficient than exosomes and apoptotic bodies in discriminating breast cell lines and Stage II breast cancer patients with varied immunohistochemical expression of HER2. Our method provides an important tool to assess the EV heterogeneity at the single EV level with potential value in clinical diagnostics.
Using
natural membranes to coat nanoparticles (NPs) provides an
efficient means to reduce the immune clearance of NPs and improve
their tumor-specific targeting. However, fabrication of these drug-loaded
biomimetic NPs, such as exosome membrane (EM)- or cancer cell membrane
(CCM)-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)
NPs, remains a challenging task owing to the heterogeneous nature
of biomembranes and labor-intensive procedures. Herein, we report
a microfluidic sonication approach to produce EM-, CCM-, and lipid-coated
PLGA NPs encapsulated with imaging agents in a one-step and straightforward
manner. Tumor cell-derived EM-coated PLGA NPs consisting of both endosomal
and plasma membrane proteins show superior homotypic targeting as
compared to CCM-PLGA NPs of similar sizes and core–shell structures
in both in vitro and in vivo models. The underlying mechanism is associated
with a significantly reduced uptake of EM-PLGA NPs by macrophages
and peripheral blood monocytes, revealing an immune evasion-mediated
targeting of EM-PLGA NPs to homologous tumors. Overall, this work
illustrates the promise of using microfluidic sonication approach
to fabricate biomimetic NPs for better biocompatibility and targeting
efficacy.
Label-free, size-dependent, and high-throughput isolation of rare tumor cells from untreated whole blood is enabled by interfacial viscoelastic microfluidics.
In recent years, carbon dots (CDs), including carbon nanodots, carbonized polymer dots, carbon quantum dots, and graphene quantum dots have attracted a mounting interest as readily accessible, nontoxic, and relatively inexpensive carbon-based nanomaterials. Yet, despite intense research for a number of years, a unifying picture is still lacking to clarify the exact definition, clear chemical structure, and unique optical properties of this family of nanomaterials. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent development of CDs from molecular design to related properties of excited states as well as their applications in optoelectronic devices and biology. We point out the current challenges, including exploring precise synthesis, clarifying the structure-property relationship, and regulating singlet and triplet states of fluorescence, phosphorescence, and delayed fluorescence. Moreover, the structural optimization of optoelectronic devices, tumor targeting mechanism, selective imaging, and drug delivery of CDs are also highlighted. We hope that the information provided in this review will inspire more exciting research on CDs from a brand-new perspective and promote practical application of CDs in multiple directions of current and future research.
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