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Updated: Feb 10, 2026
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Atomic Absorbance Spectroscopy to Measure Intracellular Zinc Pools in Mammalian Cells
Published on: May 16, 2019
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Measuring zinc in biological nanovesicles by multiple analytical approaches
Francesco Piacenza1, Antje Biesemeier2, Marco Farina3
1National Institute of Health & Aging, INRCA, Scientific and Technological Pole, Advanced Technology Center for Aging Research, Italy.
Summary
This study reveals a novel zinc fraction within circulating exosomes, crucial for intercellular communication. Measuring this exosomal zinc offers new insights into zinc status and disease relevance.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Exosomes mediate intercellular communication.
- Zinc ions are intracellular signaling factors.
- Zinc measurement in circulating nanovesicles is unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide evidence for zinc within circulating exosomes.
- To establish methods for measuring exosomal zinc.
- To explore the role of zinc in exosome function and disease.
Main Methods:
- Exosome isolation from human plasma via differential centrifugation.
- Morphological and dimensional analysis using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
- Elemental composition and zinc content determined by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis (EDX); labile zinc measured using Imaging Flow Cytometry with Fluozin-3AM.
Main Results:
- Significant zinc content (Zn/P ratio) found in both fresh and frozen exosomes.
- Exosomal zinc content increased dose-dependently with added zinc.
- Calcium levels decreased upon zinc addition, suggesting potential ion exchange.
- Labile zinc content estimated at 0.59 ± 0.27 nM, with potential measurement variability.
Conclusions:
- Circulating nano-vesicular-zinc represents a newly discovered zinc fraction in blood plasma.
- Further investigation is needed to understand the functional and biological properties of exosomal zinc.
- This finding may advance understanding of zinc status and its role in diseases.
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