A new tool for extracellular vesicle analysis

Scientists from the Institute of Regeneration & Repair (IRR) Chemistry Hub and the School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh have developed an innovative method to detect small biological particles in blood samples, opening new possibilities for earlier and more accurate disease diagnosis.

Image showing an extracellular vesicle detected by labelled antibodies (green and red fluorophores) against surface proteins.
Image showing an extracellular vesicle detected by labelled antibodies (green and red fluorophores) against surface proteins.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have created a new technique called VISTA (Vesicle Imaging by Single-molecule TCCD Analysis), which allows scientists to characterise extracellular vesicles (EVs) -nanoscopic, membrane-bound particles released by cells- directly from blood samples.

EVs carry molecular information of their cells of origin and are increasingly recognised as potential biomarkers for diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and infections. However, because EVs are highly variable, and similar in size to other particles in blood, they have been difficult to study using traditional methods.

The new approach combines antibody-based fluorescent labelling, microfluidics, and single-molecule confocal microscopy to specifically and sensitively detect EVs at very low concentrations. Unlike conventional techniques, VISTA does not require EV purification steps and can distinguish EVs from other particles such as lipoproteins or protein aggregates, also present in blood.

This represents a new area of research for us, which was made possible through interdisciplinary collaborations formed at the IRR. We’re now excited to start using the approach to look at specific EVs related to diseases, so that earlier diagnoses can be made.

Mathew Horrocks Professor of Biophysics

The team demonstrated that VISTA can profile EVs from as little as 3 microlitres of patient blood and works with multiple surface markers, making it highly adaptable for different EV subtypes.

We introduced a marker‑based approach that precisely quantifies extracellular vesicles (EVs), enabling more rigorous, quantitative analysis of EV cargo and improving experimental reproducibility—a key advantage given EV heterogeneity.

Tianxiao Zhao lead co-author

This new tool is of huge potential, offering an easy way to obtain information from patient blood samples, without the need for invasive biopsies.

Noelia Pelegrina-Hidalgo lead co-author
The work was funded by Medical Research Scotland, the Eureka Foundation, the Motor Neuron Disease Association, and the Leverhulme Trust. 

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