Novel Nanosensing Technologies Developed for Exosome Detection and Profiling
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 20 Nov 2019 |

Image: The nano-plasmonic exosome (nPLEX) sensor (Photo courtesy of Massachusetts General Hospital).
Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are produced in the endosomal compartment of most eukaryotic cells. Liquid biopsy technologies have been developed to do high-throughput exosome protein profiling and point-of-care (POC) exosome analysis.
The aim is to develop multiplexed assay systems to streamline the analysis of exosomes and evaluate their clinical utility for cancer management, both as diagnostic tools and to predict disease recurrence. Nanoplasmonic sensors are fabricated to accommodate at most one exosome and individually imaged in real time, enabling the label-free recording of digital responses in a highly multiplexed geometry.
Scientists at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH, Boston, MA, USA) and their colleagues developed the nano-plasmonic exosome (nPLEX) sensor, in routine use at MGH, which detects exosome protein levels based on “spectral shifts” (intensity changes) of light through thousands of optimally spaced 200-nanometer (nm) holes. Antibodies against cancer biomarkers get immobilized on the nanopores for capture.
Nanoholes on the sensor are gold and exosomes are labeled by gold nanoparticles for signal amplification. Gold has proven to have the best chemical stability for this type of assay. The device is being manufactured on a glass-based substrate, as silicon wafers proved to be too fragile. The iMEX (integrated magnetic-electrochemical exosome) device, meanwhile, integrates vesicle isolation and detection in a single platform. Target-specific exosomes first get enriched through immunomagnetic selection, for high detection sensitivity. The sensors can be miniaturized and expanded for parallel measurements.
The nPLEX has demonstrated good accuracy and 100 times greater sensitivity than the commonly used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and able to detect as few as 3,000 exosomes. The team has also come up with a protein signature for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) that is powerful enough for diagnostic purposes, a combination of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), EpCAM, MUC1, GPC1 and WNT2. As demonstrated in a prospective study involving more than 100 patients and age-matched controls, as the tumors shrink the biomarker combination gets lower and lower.
The scientists have also used nPLEX technology to show how exosome protein expression of cancer cells changes with drug treatment. Discovery of these unique, drug-dependent protein signatures suggests the exosome screening assay will be a potentially powerful molecular screening tool. Hyungsoon Im, PhD, an assistant professor of radiology and a senior author of the study, said, “The screening assay could be incorporated into point–of–care (POC) instruments for more rigorous testing of different drugs in different settings. The study was presented at the 2019 Next Generation Dx Summit held August 20-22, 2019 in Washington, DC, USA.
Related Links:
Massachusetts General Hospital
The aim is to develop multiplexed assay systems to streamline the analysis of exosomes and evaluate their clinical utility for cancer management, both as diagnostic tools and to predict disease recurrence. Nanoplasmonic sensors are fabricated to accommodate at most one exosome and individually imaged in real time, enabling the label-free recording of digital responses in a highly multiplexed geometry.
Scientists at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH, Boston, MA, USA) and their colleagues developed the nano-plasmonic exosome (nPLEX) sensor, in routine use at MGH, which detects exosome protein levels based on “spectral shifts” (intensity changes) of light through thousands of optimally spaced 200-nanometer (nm) holes. Antibodies against cancer biomarkers get immobilized on the nanopores for capture.
Nanoholes on the sensor are gold and exosomes are labeled by gold nanoparticles for signal amplification. Gold has proven to have the best chemical stability for this type of assay. The device is being manufactured on a glass-based substrate, as silicon wafers proved to be too fragile. The iMEX (integrated magnetic-electrochemical exosome) device, meanwhile, integrates vesicle isolation and detection in a single platform. Target-specific exosomes first get enriched through immunomagnetic selection, for high detection sensitivity. The sensors can be miniaturized and expanded for parallel measurements.
The nPLEX has demonstrated good accuracy and 100 times greater sensitivity than the commonly used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and able to detect as few as 3,000 exosomes. The team has also come up with a protein signature for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) that is powerful enough for diagnostic purposes, a combination of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), EpCAM, MUC1, GPC1 and WNT2. As demonstrated in a prospective study involving more than 100 patients and age-matched controls, as the tumors shrink the biomarker combination gets lower and lower.
The scientists have also used nPLEX technology to show how exosome protein expression of cancer cells changes with drug treatment. Discovery of these unique, drug-dependent protein signatures suggests the exosome screening assay will be a potentially powerful molecular screening tool. Hyungsoon Im, PhD, an assistant professor of radiology and a senior author of the study, said, “The screening assay could be incorporated into point–of–care (POC) instruments for more rigorous testing of different drugs in different settings. The study was presented at the 2019 Next Generation Dx Summit held August 20-22, 2019 in Washington, DC, USA.
Related Links:
Massachusetts General Hospital
Latest Molecular Diagnostics News
- Highly Accurate Biomarkers Could Detect Ovarian Cancer Before Clinical Diagnosis
- New Gene Tool to Enable Earlier Detection and Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases
- Genetic Tool Predicts Lithium Responsiveness in Bipolar Disorder Patients
- Genetic Testing Benefits Critically Ill Adults
- Testing Blood Samples for Proteins Can Reveal Malaria Severity
- Blood Test Detects Multiple Sclerosis Risk Years Before Onset of Symptoms
- Blood-Based Biomarkers Could Detect Alzheimer's as Early as Middle Age
- RNA Screening Test Could Detect Colon Polyps Before They Become Cancerous
- New RT-LAMP Assay Offers Affordable and Reliable Pathogen Detection for Resource-Limited Settings
- New Biomarker Panel to Enable Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer
- Ultrarapid Whole Genome Sequencing for Neonatal and Pediatric Patients Delivers Results In 48 Hours
- AI-Enabled Blood Test Demonstrates Diagnostic, Prognostic and Predictive Utility Across Cancer Continuum
- DNA Methylation Signatures of Aging Could Help Assess Mortality Risk
- Molecular Diagnostics System Provides Lab-Quality Results at POC
- Cellular Signature Identifies Patients with Treatment Resistant Prostate Tumors
- MCED Could Be Valuable Supplement to Traditional Cancer Screening Approaches
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Skin Swabs Could Detect Parkinson’s Years Before Symptoms Appear
Parkinson’s disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as motor symptoms do not appear until later in the progression of the disease. The ability to detect the disease up to seven... Read more
New Clinical Chemistry Analyzer Designed to Meet Growing Demands of Modern Labs
A new clinical chemistry analyzer is designed to provide outstanding performance and maximum efficiency, without compromising affordability, to meet the growing demands of modern laboratories.... Read more
New Reference Measurement Procedure Standardizes Nucleic Acid Amplification Test Results
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) play a key role in diagnosing a wide range of infectious diseases. These tests are generally known for their high sensitivity and specificity, and they can be developed... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Highly Accurate Biomarkers Could Detect Ovarian Cancer Before Clinical Diagnosis
Ovarian cancer is a deadly and challenging disease, primarily because early detection is difficult. Most women (70-75%) are diagnosed only after the cancer has already spread, which significantly reduces... Read more
New Gene Tool to Enable Earlier Detection and Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases
Cardiometabolic diseases, which affect the heart, blood vessels, and the body's ability to process food and generate energy, are difficult to diagnose early due to the complex genetic changes that contribute... Read moreHematology
view channel
Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results
Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more
First Point-of-Care Heparin Monitoring Test Provides Results in Under 15 Minutes
Heparin dosing requires careful management to avoid both bleeding and clotting complications. In high-risk situations like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), mortality rates can reach about 50%,... Read moreImmunology
view channel
New AI System Uncovers Hidden Cell Subtypes to Advance Cancer Immunotherapy
To produce effective targeted therapies for cancer, scientists need to isolate the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of cancer cells, both within and across different tumors. These differences significantly... Read more
Evolutionary Clinical Trial to Identify Novel Biomarker-Driven Therapies for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer, which occurs when cancer spreads from the breast to other parts of the body, is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. Nearly 90% of patients with metastatic cancer will... Read more
Groundbreaking Lateral Flow Test Quantifies Nucleosomes in Whole Venous Blood in Minutes
Diagnosing immune disruptions quickly and accurately is crucial in conditions such as sepsis, where timely intervention is critical for patient survival. Traditional testing methods can be slow, expensive,... Read moreMicrobiology
view channel
Early Detection of Gut Microbiota Metabolite Linked to Atherosclerosis Could Revolutionize Diagnosis
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and atherosclerosis plays a critical role in its development. This chronic condition, characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries... Read more
Viral Load Tests Can Help Predict Mpox Severity
Mpox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and a characteristic rash, which evolves significantly over time and varies between patients. The disease spreads mainly through direct contact with... Read more
Gut Microbiota Analysis Enables Early and Non-Invasive Detection of Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder marked by abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy, typically emerging in the mid to late stages. It significantly heightens the risk of... Read morePathology
view channel
AI Tool Accurately Determines Breast Cancer Prognosis
A new study has found that cells and tissues surrounding a breast cancer tumor may hold critical information about how patients will respond to treatment. The research, published in the journal Patterns,... Read more
Powerful New Tool Improves Tissue Cancer Analysis
Studying the mix of cell types in human tissue is crucial for understanding diseases like cancer, but it presents significant challenges in both accuracy and scalability. The tumor microenvironment, composed... Read moreIndustry
view channel
QuidelOrtho and BÜHLMANN Collaborate on Gastrointestinal Biomarker Tests
QuidelOrtho Corporation (San Diego, CA, USA) and BÜHLMANN Laboratories AG (Schönenbuch, Switzerland) have announced the availability of the BÜHLMANN fCAL turbo and fPELA turbo assays on QuidelOrtho's... Read more