Biosensing extracellular vesicles: contribution of biomolecules in affinity-based methods for detection and isolation

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biochemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication and are promising disease biomarkers.
• EVs possess surface proteins crucial for their isolation and detection via biochemical methods.
• Current isolation techniques face challenges with protein stability, necessitating alternative ligand strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review biomolecules used as ligands in affinity-based biosensors for EV detection and isolation.
• To highlight the advantages of emerging non-denaturable biomolecules like DNA aptamers and peptides.
• To discuss the application of these ligands in various biosensor platforms for EV analysis.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on affinity-based biosensors for EV detection.
• Analysis of biomolecules (antibodies, DNA aptamers, peptides) as ligands for EV isolation.
• Examination of biosensor types (electrochemical, optical, microfluidic) utilizing these ligands.
• Discussion of generic and specific probes for EV targeting.

Main Results:

• DNA aptamers offer superior stability, ease of production, and high affinity compared to antibodies.
• Peptides provide a complementary biochemical approach for targeting EV membrane proteins.
• Biosensors employ diverse ligands, including generic probes (e.g., tetraspanins) and specific probes (e.g., cancer biomarkers).

Conclusions:

• DNA aptamers and peptides represent advanced, stable alternatives to antibodies for EV detection and isolation.
• Biosensor technology utilizing these novel ligands enhances the potential of EVs as diagnostic biomarkers.
• The development of versatile biosensors is crucial for advancing EV-based diagnostics and therapeutics.