Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2026
10:46
Size Exclusion Chromatography for Separating Extracellular Vesicles from Conditioned Cell Culture Media
Published on: May 13, 2022
3.8K
Characterising extracellular vesicles from individual low volume cerebrospinal fluid samples, isolated by SmartSEC
Yael Hirschberg1,2, Kurt Boonen1,2, Karin Schildermans1,2
1Health Unit Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) Mol Belgium.
Journal of Extracellular Biology
|June 28, 2024
Summary
This study shows that the SmartSEC HT kit can isolate pure extracellular vesicles (EVs) from small cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes. This enables biomarker studies on individual patient samples, advancing neurodegeneration research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are implicated in neurodegeneration.
- EVs can transmit pathological proteins between cells.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a source for EV isolation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the SmartSEC HT isolation kit for EV extraction from small CSF volumes.
- To enable biomarker studies using individual patient CSF samples.
- To avoid sample pooling and preserve individual patient data.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of EVs from 500 μL CSF using the SmartSEC HT kit.
- Characterization of two EV fractions using Nanotracking Analysis (NTA), ExoView, and membrane staining.
- Comparison of EV purity and yield between fractions.
Main Results:
- EVs were successfully isolated from small CSF volumes.
- Fraction 1 yielded more reproducible and purer EVs compared to fraction 2.
- Characterization techniques confirmed the presence of EVs in both fractions, with fraction 1 showing less contamination.
Conclusions:
- The SmartSEC HT kit is effective for isolating EVs from limited CSF volumes.
- Fraction 1 provides sufficiently pure EVs for biomarker studies.
- This method supports biomarker discovery for individualised neurological diagnoses.
