Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
11:55
Membrane Transport Processes Analyzed by a Highly Parallel Nanopore Chip System at Single Protein Resolution
Published on: August 16, 2016
12.1K
Liposome purification from micromolar protein background using diffusiophoretic trapping
Pavlina Senikoglou1, Corentin Cardot1, Jonas N Pedersen1
1Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. rcwm@dtu.dk.
Nanoscale
|January 16, 2026
Summary
This study presents a fluidic device for purifying colloids like liposomes from liquid biopsies using diffusiophoresis. Pluronic polymer coating effectively prevents protein adsorption, enabling efficient extracellular vesicle biomarker isolation for early disease diagnostics.
Area of Science:
- Biomarker Discovery
- Nanotechnology
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Liquid biopsies offer a non-invasive method for early disease diagnostics using extracellular vesicle (EV) biomarkers.
- Colloid concentration in fluidic devices, using diffusiophoresis and diffusioosmosis, is a key step for EV biomarker analysis.
- Protein adsorption and surface interactions challenge colloid purification in complex biological samples like plasma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a fluidic device for efficient colloid purification from liquid biopsies.
- To investigate the role of surface modification in preventing protein adsorption and enabling diffusiophoretic trapping.
- To demonstrate the purification of liposomes from plasma for potential application in early disease diagnostics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a fluidic device with a salt gradient to induce diffusiophoresis and diffusioosmosis for colloid trapping.
- Employed Pluronic polymer coating for surface passivation to prevent protein adsorption and maintain surface zeta potential.
- Experimentally captured and purified 120 nm liposomes from solutions containing bovine/human serum albumin and 10% plasma.
Main Results:
- Pluronic coating effectively prevented adsorption of albumin and liposomes while maintaining a sufficient zeta potential for trapping.
- Liposomes were successfully captured from dilute solutions with micromolar protein concentrations.
- Demonstrated effective purification of liposomes from 10% plasma, with proteins removed via diffusion.
Conclusions:
- Diffusiophoretic trapping, enhanced by Pluronic surface passivation, is a viable method for purifying extracellular vesicles from liquid biopsies.
- This technique addresses challenges posed by protein-rich biological fluids, bringing colloid purification closer to clinical diagnostic applications.
- The developed fluidic device shows promise for advancing early disease detection through improved biomarker isolation.
