The Physical Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles for Function Elucidation and Biomedical Applications: A Review

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles are promising candidates for novel biomedical applications due to their universal secretion by all organisms. Despite their discovery in 1971, understanding of extracellular vesicles remains in its infancy due to their complex nature and nanoscale dimensions, which make characterization challenging. Extracellular vesicles contain a diverse array of proteins, making them valuable for identifying disease-specific biomarkers and driving research since 2007. However, identifying these biomarkers remains difficult and expensive. Advancements in extracellular vesicle techniques, including single extracellular vesicle characterization, hold promise for disease diagnosis and personalized medicine. Notably, the biomechanical properties of extracellular vesicles have emerged as a potential diagnosis tool. However, biomechanical characterization has rarely been investigated for disease diagnosis due to limited understanding and a lack of standardized protocols. Recently, significant advancements have been made using various techniques such as atomic force microscopy and micropipette aspiration. This review explores recent developments in biomechanical analysis, demonstrating novel disease diagnostic pathways facilitated by extracellular vesicles and outlining future research directions.