An aptamer-based new method for competitive fluorescence detection of exosomes

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Diagnostics

Background:

• Exosomes are key players in cancer occurrence and metastasis.
• Sensitive, low-cost exosome detection is vital for early cancer diagnosis.
• Current methods for exosome detection are often costly and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sensitive and low-cost fluorescence-based method for exosome detection.
• To utilize aptamers specific to CD63 for exosome quantification.
• To validate the method's performance in complex clinical samples.

Main Methods:

• A fluorescence assay employing aptamer-modified magnetic beads.
• Competitive detection based on aptamer binding to CD63 on exosomes.
• Quantification of exosomes by measuring fluorescence intensity of released Cy3-labeled sequences.

Main Results:

• The method achieved a detection limit as low as 1.0 × 10^5 particles/μL.
• Demonstrated feasibility for exosome detection in simulated clinical serum samples.
• Significantly reduced detection cost and complexity compared to conventional methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed fluorescence method offers a sensitive, low-cost approach for exosome detection.
• This technique provides a foundation for exosome-based diagnostics in specific cancer types.
• The method enhances accessibility for exosome biomarker research and clinical application.