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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Multimodal Analytical Platform on a Multiplexed Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging Chip for the Analysis of Extracellular Vesicle Subsets
Published on: March 17, 2023
Amplifying metabolic profiling of extracellular vesicle dynamics with ACTIVITY
Ru-Jia Yu1, Wei-Yi Ma1, Han-Yang Xiao1
1State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (LoFE) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials and Theranostic Technology, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China.
Macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) show inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, a novel biomarker for lung inflammation. This activity aids in diagnosing pneumonia and monitoring treatment effectiveness using a new assay.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Biomarkers
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain rich molecular cargo, making them promising for liquid biopsy.
- Metabolic profiling of EVs is underexplored for disease diagnosis.
- Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity in EVs is a potential metabolic biomarker.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate macrophage-derived EV iNOS activity as a biomarker for lung inflammation.
- To develop a novel method for assaying metabolically active EVs.
- To evaluate the diagnostic potential of EV metabolic activity in pneumonia.
Main Methods:
- Developed the ACTIVITY (Amplified Cascade-catalysis TestIng for VesIcular meTabolic activitY) method.
- Integrated biocatalysis of EV iNOS activity with electrocatalysis of tungsten disulfide quantum dots (WS2 QDs).
- Applied the assay to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples.
Main Results:
- Macrophage-derived EV iNOS activity effectively profiles lung inflammation.
- The ACTIVITY method rapidly assays metabolically active EVs.
- EV metabolic profiling differentiated pneumonia patients from healthy controls.
- The method facilitated monitoring of pneumonia treatment.
Conclusions:
- Metabolically active EVs, specifically iNOS activity, serve as effective biomarkers for lung inflammation.
- The developed ACTIVITY assay shows potential for rapid, activity-based EV profiling.
- EV metabolic activity holds promise for disease diagnostics and treatment monitoring.
