Real-Time analysis of exosome secretion of single cells with single molecule imaging

Investigate the efficacy of size exclusion chromatography for the isolation of extracellular vesicles from C. elegans

Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) has been done extensively in the past using ultracentrifugation, a recent shift has been observed towards precipitation, and exosome isolation kits. These methods often co-elute contaminants of similar size and density which makes their detection and downstream applications quite challenging. As well as the EV yield is also compromised in some methodologies due to aggregate formation. In recent reports, size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) is replacing density gradient-based ultracentrifugation as the gold standard of exosome isolation. It outperforms in yield, purity and does not account for any physical damage to the EVs. We have standardized the methodology for an efficient pure yield of homogenous exosomes of size even smaller than 75 nm in Caenorhabditis elegans homogenate. The paper entails the application and optimization of EV isolation by SEC based on previous studies by optimizing bed size and type of sepharose column employed. We propose that this method is economically feasible in comparison with currently available approaches. A comparative study was conducted to investigate the performance of CL-6B in relation to CL-2B and further, this was combined with ultracentrifugation for higher efficacy. The methodology could be introduced in a clinical setting due to its therapeutic potential and scope. The eluted EVs were studied by flow cytometry, nanotracking and characterized for size and morphology.

Real-Time Monitoring of Exosomes Secretion from Single Cell Using Dual-Nanopore Biosensors

Exosomes secreted from cells carry rich information from their parent cells, representing a promising biomarker for investigation of diseases. We develop a dual-nanopore biosensor using DNA aptamers to specifically recognize CD63 protein on the exosome's surface, which enables label-free exosome detection based on ionic current change. The sensor allows for sensitive detection of exosomes with a detection limit of 3.4 × 10⁶ particles/mL. The dual-nanopore biosensor was able to form an intrapipette electric circuit for ionic current measurement due to its unique structure, which is crucial to achieve detection of exosome secretion from a single cell. We utilized a microwell array chip to entrap a single cell into a confined microwell with small volume, enabling the accumulation of exosomes with high concentration. The dual-nanopore biosensor was positioned into the microwell with a single cell, and monitoring of exosome secretion from a single cell in different cell lines and under different stimulations has been achieved. Our design may provide a useful platform for developing nanopore biosensors for detecting cell secretions from a single living cell.

Plasmonic Scattering Microscopy for Label-Free Imaging of Molecular Binding Kinetics: From Single Molecules to Single Cells

Measuring molecular binding kinetics represents one of the most important tasks in molecular interaction analysis. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a popular tool for analyzing molecular binding. Plasmonic scattering microscopy (PSM) is a newly developed SPR imaging technology, which detects the out-of-plane scattering of surface plasmons by analytes and has pushed the detection limit of label-free SPR imaging down to a single-protein level. In addition, PSM also allows SPR imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution, making it possible to analyze cellular response to the molecular bindings. In this Mini Review, we present PSM as a method of choice for chemical and biological imaging, introduce its theoretical mechanism, present its experimental schemes, summarize its exciting applications, and discuss its challenges as well as the promising future.

Multiplexed Protein Detection and Parallel Binding Kinetics Analysis with Label-Free Digital Single-Molecule Counting

Multiplexed protein detection is critical for improving the drug and biomarker screening efficiency. Here, we show that multiplexed protein detection and parallel protein interaction analysis can be realized by evanescent scattering microscopy (ESM). ESM enables binding kinetics measurement with label-free digital single-molecule counting. We implemented an automatic single-molecule counting strategy with high temporal resolution to precisely determine the binding time, which improves the counting efficiency and accuracy. We show that digital single-molecule counting can recognize proteins with different molecular weights, thus making it possible to monitor the protein binding processes in the solution by real-time tracking of the numbers of free and bound proteins landing on the sensor surface. Furthermore, we show that this strategy can simultaneously analyze the kinetics of two different protein interaction processes on the surface and in the solution. This work may pave a way to investigate complicated protein interactions, such as the competition of biomarker-antibody binding in biofluids with biomarker-protein binding on the cellular membrane.

Label-free imaging and biomarker analysis of exosomes with plasmonic scattering microscopy

Exosome analysis is a promising tool for clinical and biological research applications. However, detection and biomarker quantification of exosomes is technically challenging because they are small and highly heterogeneous. Here, we report an optical approach for imaging exosomes and quantifying their protein markers without labels using plasmonic scattering microscopy (PSM). PSM can provide improved spatial resolution and distortion-free image compared to conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) microscopy, with the signal-to-noise ratio similar to objective coupled surface plasmon resonance (SPR) microscopy, and millimeter-scale field of view as a prism-coupled SPR system, thus allowing exosome size distribution analysis with high throughput. In addition, PSM retains the high specificity and surface sensitivity of the SPR sensors and thus allows selection of exosomes from extracellular vesicles with antibody-modified sensor surfaces and in situ analyzing binding kinetics between antibody and the surface protein biomarkers on the captured exosomes. Finally, the PSM can be easily constructed on a popular prism-coupled SPR system with commercially available components. Thus, it may provide an economical and powerful tool for clinical exosome analysis and exploration of fundamental issues such as exosome biomarker binding properties.

In Situ Analysis of Membrane-Protein Binding Kinetics and Cell-Surface Adhesion Using Plasmonic Scattering Microscopy

Surface plasmon resonance microscopy (SPRM) is an excellent platform for in situ studying cell-substrate interactions. However, SPRM suffers from poor spatial resolution and small field of view. Herein, we demonstrate plasmonic scattering microscopy (PSM) by adding a dry objective on a popular prism-coupled surface plasmon resonance (SPR) system. PSM not only retains SPRM's high sensitivity and real-time analysis capability, but also provides ≈7 times higher spatial resolution and ≈70 times larger field of view than the typical SPRM, thus providing more details about membrane protein response to ligand binding on over 100 cells simultaneously. In addition, PSM allows quantifying the target movements in the axial direction with a high spatial resolution, thus allowing mapping adhesion spring constants for quantitatively describing the mechanical properties of the cell-substrate contacts. This work may offer a powerful and cost-effective strategy for upgrading current SPR products.

Label-Free Imaging of Single Proteins and Binding Kinetics Using Total Internal Reflection-Based Evanescent Scattering Microscopy

Single-molecule detection can push beyond ensemble averages and reveal the statistical distributions of molecular properties. Measuring the binding kinetics of single proteins also represents one of the critical and challenging tasks in protein analysis. Here, we report total internal reflection-based evanescent scattering microscopy with label-free single-protein detection capability. Total internal reflection is employed to excite the evanescent field to enhance light-analyte interaction and reduce environmental noise. As a result, the system provides wide-field imaging capability and allows excitation and observation using one objective. In addition, this system quantifies protein binding kinetics by simultaneously counting the binding of individual molecules and recording their binding sites with nanometer precision, providing a digital method to measure binding kinetics with high spatiotemporal resolution. This approach does not employ specially designed microspheres or nanomaterials and may pave a way for label-free single-protein analysis in conventional microscopy.

Exosomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor with a unique geographical distribution, primarily prevalent in East Africa and Asia. Although there is an increased understanding of the pathogenesis and risk factors of NPC, prevention and treatment efforts remain limited. Various studies have indicated that exosomes are actively involved in NPC by delivering biomolecules such as non-coding RNAs and proteins to target cells. In this review, we summarize the biological functions of exosomes in NPC and highlight their prospects as diagnostic biomarkers. In NPC, exosomes can manipulate the tumor microenvironment, participate in chemotherapy and radiation resistance, induce immune suppression, promote pathological angiogenesis, and support metastasis, and thus they could also be promising biomarkers. Because exosomes have essential effects and unusual biological properties, they have a promising future in diagnostic monitoring and prognostic evaluation. Although there are technical issues associated with using exosomes in large-scale applications, they have unparalleled advantages in assisting the clinical management of NPC.