Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Advancement and obstacles in microfluidics-based isolation of extracellular vesicles

Havers, Megan LU orcid ; Broman, Axel LU ; Lenshof, Andreas LU and Laurell, Thomas LU (2023) In Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 415(7). p.1265-1285
Abstract

There is a great need for techniques which enable reproducible separation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from biofluids with high recovery, purity and throughput. The development of new techniques for isolation of EVs from minute sample volumes is instrumental in enabling EV-based biomarker profiling in large biobank cohorts and paves the way to improved diagnostic profiles in precision medicine. Recent advances in microfluidics-based devices offer a toolbox for separating EVs from small sample volumes. Microfluidic devices that have been used in EV isolation utilise different fundamental principles and rely largely on benefits of scaling laws as the biofluid processing is miniaturised to chip level. Here, we review the progress in the... (More)

There is a great need for techniques which enable reproducible separation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from biofluids with high recovery, purity and throughput. The development of new techniques for isolation of EVs from minute sample volumes is instrumental in enabling EV-based biomarker profiling in large biobank cohorts and paves the way to improved diagnostic profiles in precision medicine. Recent advances in microfluidics-based devices offer a toolbox for separating EVs from small sample volumes. Microfluidic devices that have been used in EV isolation utilise different fundamental principles and rely largely on benefits of scaling laws as the biofluid processing is miniaturised to chip level. Here, we review the progress in the practicality and performance of both passive devices (such as mechanical filtering and hydrodynamic focusing) and active devices (using magnetic, electric or acoustic fields). As it stands, many microfluidic devices isolate intact EV populations at higher purities than centrifugation, precipitation or size-exclusion chromatography. However, this comes at a cost. We address challenges (in particular low throughput, clogging risks and ability to process biofluids) and highlight the need for more improvements in microfluidic devices. Finally, we conclude that there is a need to refine and standardise these lab-on-a-chip techniques to meet the growing interest in the diagnostic and therapeutic value of purified EVs.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Extracellular vesicles, Microfluidics, Nanoparticle isolation
in
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
volume
415
issue
7
pages
1265 - 1285
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:36284018
  • scopus:85141074047
ISSN
1618-2642
DOI
10.1007/s00216-022-04362-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
47c8ae9f-c217-4e9a-86b4-1811e7be4b94
date added to LUP
2022-12-21 12:37:12
date last changed
2024-04-18 17:37:42
@article{47c8ae9f-c217-4e9a-86b4-1811e7be4b94,
  abstract     = {{<p>There is a great need for techniques which enable reproducible separation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from biofluids with high recovery, purity and throughput. The development of new techniques for isolation of EVs from minute sample volumes is instrumental in enabling EV-based biomarker profiling in large biobank cohorts and paves the way to improved diagnostic profiles in precision medicine. Recent advances in microfluidics-based devices offer a toolbox for separating EVs from small sample volumes. Microfluidic devices that have been used in EV isolation utilise different fundamental principles and rely largely on benefits of scaling laws as the biofluid processing is miniaturised to chip level. Here, we review the progress in the practicality and performance of both passive devices (such as mechanical filtering and hydrodynamic focusing) and active devices (using magnetic, electric or acoustic fields). As it stands, many microfluidic devices isolate intact EV populations at higher purities than centrifugation, precipitation or size-exclusion chromatography. However, this comes at a cost. We address challenges (in particular low throughput, clogging risks and ability to process biofluids) and highlight the need for more improvements in microfluidic devices. Finally, we conclude that there is a need to refine and standardise these lab-on-a-chip techniques to meet the growing interest in the diagnostic and therapeutic value of purified EVs. <br/></p>}},
  author       = {{Havers, Megan and Broman, Axel and Lenshof, Andreas and Laurell, Thomas}},
  issn         = {{1618-2642}},
  keywords     = {{Extracellular vesicles; Microfluidics; Nanoparticle isolation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{1265--1285}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry}},
  title        = {{Advancement and obstacles in microfluidics-based isolation of extracellular vesicles}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00216-022-04362-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00216-022-04362-3}},
  volume       = {{415}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}