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, etc. 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.