Acoustic Immunosensing of Exosomes Using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring

Anal Chem. 2020 Mar 3;92(5):4082-4093. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05736. Epub 2020 Feb 13.

Abstract

Exosomes are endocytic lipid-membrane bound bodies with the potential to be used as biomarkers in cancer and neurodegenerative disease. The limitations and scarcity of current exosome characterization approaches have led to a growing demand for translational techniques, capable of determining their molecular composition and physical properties in physiological fluids. Here, we investigate label-free immunosensing, using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), to detect exosomes by exploiting their surface protein profile. Exosomes expressing the transmembrane protein CD63 were isolated by size-exclusion chromatography from cell culture media. QCM-D sensors functionalized with anti-CD63 antibodies formed a direct immunoassay toward CD63-positive exosomes in 75% v/v serum, exhibiting a limit-of-detection of 2.9 × 108 and 1.4 × 108 exosome sized particles (ESPs)/mL for frequency and dissipation response, respectively, i.e., clinically relevant concentrations. Our proof-of-concept findings support the adoption of dual-mode acoustic analysis of exosomes, leveraging both frequency and dissipation monitoring for use in bioanalytical characterization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Exosomes / chemistry*
  • Exosomes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Limit of Detection
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / metabolism
  • Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques / methods*
  • Tetraspanin 30 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • CD63 protein, human
  • Tetraspanin 30