In vitro diagnostic technologies for the detection of extracellular vesicles: current status and future directions

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are natural vehicles carrying and transferring bioactive molecules for intercellular communication and play key roles in physiological and pathological processes. EVs are promising biomarkers for disease diagnosis due to their rich biological information and minimally invasive sampling. In this review, we summarize the current methods for isolating EVs from the body fluids and the techniques for analyzing EVs’ biomolecules including the proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. The advantages, feasibility, and challenges of EV-based in vitro diagnosis toward clinical application are discussed. Finally, an outlook on the marketing and routine clinical application of EV-based in vitro diagnosis is provided.