Demystifying EV heterogeneity: emerging microfluidic technologies for isolation and multiplexed profiling of extracellular vesicles.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are heterogeneous lipid containers carrying complex molecular cargoes, including proteins, nucleic acids, glycans, <i>etc.</i> These vesicles are closely associated with specific physiological characteristics, which makes them invaluable in the detection and monitoring of various diseases. However, traditional isolation methods are often labour-intensive, inefficient, and time-consuming. In addition, single biomarker analyses are no longer accurate enough to meet diagnostic needs. Routine isolation and molecular analysis of high-purity EVs in clinical applications is even more challenging. In this review, we discuss a promising solution, microfluidic-based techniques, that combine efficient isolation and multiplex detection of EVs, to further demystify EV heterogeneity. These microfluidic-based EV multiplexing platforms will hopefully facilitate development of liquid biopsies and offer promising opportunities for personalised therapy.