Issue 21, 2017

Microfluidics for exosome isolation and analysis: enabling liquid biopsy for personalized medicine

Abstract

Exosomes, the smallest sized extracellular vesicles (∽30–150 nm) packaged with lipids, proteins, functional messenger RNAs and microRNAs, and double-stranded DNA from their cells of origin, have emerged as key players in intercellular communication. Their presence in bodily fluids, where they protect their cargo from degradation, makes them attractive candidates for clinical application as innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools. But routine isolation and analysis of high purity exosomes in clinical settings is challenging, with conventional methods facing a number of drawbacks including low yield and/or purity, long processing times, high cost, and difficulties in standardization. Here we review a promising solution, microfluidic-based technologies that have incorporated a host of separation and sensing capabilities for exosome isolation, detection, and analysis, with emphasis on point-of-care and clinical applications. These new capabilities promise to advance fundamental research while paving the way toward routine exosome-based liquid biopsy for personalized medicine.

Graphical abstract: Microfluidics for exosome isolation and analysis: enabling liquid biopsy for personalized medicine

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
05 iyn 2017
Accepted
07 avq 2017
First published
10 avq 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Lab Chip, 2017,17, 3558-3577

Microfluidics for exosome isolation and analysis: enabling liquid biopsy for personalized medicine

J. C. Contreras-Naranjo, H. Wu and V. M. Ugaz, Lab Chip, 2017, 17, 3558 DOI: 10.1039/C7LC00592J

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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