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Ultrahigh-Uniformity Nanopore Size Filter for Extracellular Vesicle Isolation and In Vitro Dermatological Assessment.
Jaehyuk Lee1,2, Boseong Seo2, Jungwon Lee2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|December 18, 2025
Summary
A new micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) filter efficiently isolates extracellular vesicles (EVs) from milk and Lactobacillus cultures. This high-purity EV isolation method shows promise for dermatological applications and large-scale production.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology and Materials Science
Background:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, are valuable biomolecules found in sources like bovine milk and Lactobacillus cultures.
- Current isolation methods often suffer from low efficiency and purity, hindering their widespread application.
- The development of advanced filtration techniques is crucial for overcoming these limitations in EV isolation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based membrane filter for high-efficiency and high-purity isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs).
- To compare the performance of the developed MEMS filter against commercial filters.
- To assess the bioactivity and potential dermatological applications of EVs isolated using the novel filter.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a MEMS-based membrane filter with controlled pore size (minimum 32 nm) and thickness (minimum 290 nm).
- Performance evaluation using high-concentration milk and Lactobacillus samples, comparing EV recovery rates and yield against commercial polyethersulfone (PES) filters.
- Characterization of the MEMS160 membrane for pore uniformity, fouling reduction, and assessment of isolated EV purity and bioactivity in various cell models.
Main Results:
- The developed MEMS filter demonstrated a 2.17-fold higher EV recovery rate than commercial PES filters from a 5 mL sample.
- The MEMS160 membrane, with 168 nm pores and 318 nm thickness, showed reduced fouling and enabled isolation of EVs at 5.52 × 1010 particles/mL.
- Isolated EVs significantly enhanced proliferation in human, canine, and feline fibroblasts, with synergistic effects observed when combined with an anti-aging peptide.
Conclusions:
- The novel MEMS-based membrane filter offers superior performance for high-purity and high-yield extracellular vesicle isolation.
- Isolated EVs exhibit significant bioactivity, promoting cell proliferation and demonstrating potential for dermatological and anti-aging applications.
- The developed filter technology holds promise for scalable EV isolation and therapeutic development.
