Label-free and biocompatible on-chip magnetic separation enables efficient extraction of exosomes

2022-07-15 19:10:30 By : Ms. Helen Ho

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by Li Yuan, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Exosomes are lipid-bilayer nanoscale membrane particles (typically

However, due to the nanoscale size (30-200 nm) and low buoyant density of exosomes, their isolation and purification from complex biological fluids are still challenging. Recently, a research team led by Prof. Yang Hui from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a label-free and biocompatible on-chip magnetic separation system for efficient extraction of exosomes from cell culture supernatant. The study was published in Lab on a Chip. In this study, the researchers constructed a label-free on-chip magnetic separation system based on the principle of negative magnetophoresis. The core unit of the system is a magnetic module with ultra-high gradient magnetic field, consisting of symmetrically distributed permanent magnets, high magnetic permeability perm-alloys, as well as on-chip magnetic pole arrays. Based on the magnetic module, the system can generate an ultra-high magnetic field gradient in microfluidic channels for sample extraction. Thus, biological samples with extremely small size (in nanometers) can be collected, and the size resolution to distinguish samples of different sizes are highly improved compared to existed techniques. "By using the on-chip magnetic pole arrays, the magnetic field gradient in the microchannel is drastically increased. Therefore, the on-chip negative magnetophoretic separation with size resolution of nanometer is realized using a ferrofluid of extremely low concentration," said Dr. Zeng Lin, first author of this study. "The viability of the bio-samples is greatly improved in the ferrofluid of low concentration." Furthermore, the researchers presented a biocompatible ferrofluid solution, which can meet the needs of separating exosomes and keeping their bioactivity at the same time. By using such biocompatible ferrofluid, the system achieves the separation of exosomes with high purity and high recovery rate. "The proposed microfluidic system provides potentials for exosome research and exosome-based disease diagnosis and treatment," said Prof. Yang. Explore further Improving plastic waste separation with magnetic fields More information: Lin Zeng et al, Extraction of small extracellular vesicles by label-free and biocompatible on-chip magnetic separation, Lab on a Chip (2022). DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00217e Journal information: Lab on a Chip

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences Citation: Label-free and biocompatible on-chip magnetic separation enables efficient extraction of exosomes (2022, July 5) retrieved 15 July 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-07-label-free-biocompatible-on-chip-magnetic-enables.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

However, due to the nanoscale size (30-200 nm) and low buoyant density of exosomes, their isolation and purification from complex biological fluids are still challenging.

Recently, a research team led by Prof. Yang Hui from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a label-free and biocompatible on-chip magnetic separation system for efficient extraction of exosomes from cell culture supernatant.

The study was published in Lab on a Chip.

In this study, the researchers constructed a label-free on-chip magnetic separation system based on the principle of negative magnetophoresis. The core unit of the system is a magnetic module with ultra-high gradient magnetic field, consisting of symmetrically distributed permanent magnets, high magnetic permeability perm-alloys, as well as on-chip magnetic pole arrays.

Based on the magnetic module, the system can generate an ultra-high magnetic field gradient in microfluidic channels for sample extraction. Thus, biological samples with extremely small size (in nanometers) can be collected, and the size resolution to distinguish samples of different sizes are highly improved compared to existed techniques.

"By using the on-chip magnetic pole arrays, the magnetic field gradient in the microchannel is drastically increased. Therefore, the on-chip negative magnetophoretic separation with size resolution of nanometer is realized using a ferrofluid of extremely low concentration," said Dr. Zeng Lin, first author of this study. "The viability of the bio-samples is greatly improved in the ferrofluid of low concentration."

Furthermore, the researchers presented a biocompatible ferrofluid solution, which can meet the needs of separating exosomes and keeping their bioactivity at the same time. By using such biocompatible ferrofluid, the system achieves the separation of exosomes with high purity and high recovery rate.

"The proposed microfluidic system provides potentials for exosome research and exosome-based disease diagnosis and treatment," said Prof. Yang. Explore further Improving plastic waste separation with magnetic fields More information: Lin Zeng et al, Extraction of small extracellular vesicles by label-free and biocompatible on-chip magnetic separation, Lab on a Chip (2022). DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00217e Journal information: Lab on a Chip

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences Citation: Label-free and biocompatible on-chip magnetic separation enables efficient extraction of exosomes (2022, July 5) retrieved 15 July 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-07-label-free-biocompatible-on-chip-magnetic-enables.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

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