Nanoscale sorting of extracellular vesicles via optically-induced dielectrophoresis on an integrated microfluidic system

Abstract

We reported a microfluidic system for sorting of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which can house DNAs, RNAs, lipids, proteins, and metabolites that are important in intercellular communication. Their presence within bodily fluids has demonstrated potential in both clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Furthermore, EVs exhibit distinct subtypes categorized by their sizes, each endowed with unique biophysical properties. Despite several existing techniques for EV isolation and purification, diminished purity and prolonged processing times still hamper clinical utility; comprehensive capture of EVs remains an ongoing pursuit. To address these challenges, we devised an innovative method for automated sorting of nano-scale EVs employing optically-induced dielectrophoresis on an integrated microfluidic chip. With this approach, EVs of three distinct size categories (small: 100–150 nm, medium-sized: 150–225 nm, and large: 225–350 nm) could be isolated at a purity of 86%. This new method has substantial potential in expediting EV research and diagnostics.