ISEV 2014: Characterization at the nanoscale

Here at Malvern, we are committed to sharing our experience and ideas with the people working on the front line of analytical science. So I am especially pleased to be travelling to Rotterdam for ISEV 2014, where I will present a paper – ‘The practical use of nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) to characterize extracellular vesicles in general and when using fluorescence markers.

ISEV 2014 – a meeting of the International Society of Extracellular Vesicles – is taking place between the 30th April and the 3rd May. I’ll be presenting the paper, co-authored with colleagues Andrew Malloy, Agnieszka Siupa, Pauline Carnell and Bob Carr, right at the start on the 30th.  My colleagues Andrew Malloy and Michel Terray will be there throughout the whole event, ready to learn from others in this fast developing field, and to offer support to those looking for ways to measure extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles, or exosomes as they are often known as, are released by a wide variety of cells. They are also increasingly being associated with range of pathological conditions and show a great deal of promise as diagnostics for many diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and pre-eclampsia. However, developments in this area are constrained by limitations in the technology available for their measurement, and that’s where Malvern comes in.

Malvern’s NanoSight Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis system offers the potential to rapidly enumerate and speciate these particles, giving a direct measurement of the concentration and size distribution of the vesicles in the field of view. In addition, fluorescent labelling of particles for expressed markers allows researchers to measure the concentration and size distribution of those labelled particles only, permitting the proportion of labelled particles to be calculated. The basics of the technology are explained in the video:

My presentation will examine some of the challenges and considerations required during protocol development and measurement, along with examples of good methodologies and appropriate controls. All of my fellow authors are experts in the technology and application of NanoSight NTA, so we hope to provide attendees with some valuable and exciting information.

For more information on Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis for Extracellular Vesicles visit http://www.malvern.com/en/industry-applications/sample-type-form/extracellular-vesicles/default.aspx

You may also find the following technical notes useful (free on registration to malvern.com):

Direct visualization, sizing and counting of fluorescently labeled nanoparticles using NTA

Direct visualization, sizing and counting of extracellular vesicles using NTA