Exosomes are the smallest and most characteristic of extracellular vesicles and contain a variety of biological information, including proteins, lipids, DNA, mRNA, and microRNA. These biomolecules are involved in regulating various life activities such as signal transduction, proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis among tumor cells. Exosomes are not only a new biological marker assay, but also provide potential molecular therapeutic targets and are expected to be a carrier for anti-brain tumor drug delivery.
Exosome development services for brain tumors
The use of peripheral blood biomarkers is particularly important to assist in determining brain tumor recurrence and evaluating treatment response. Exosomes readily cross the blood-brain barrier into and out of the central nervous system. We can detect specific sequence changes in DNA isolated from brain tumor patient samples (e.g., peripheral blood extracellular vesicles from glioma patients) to identify potential biological markers. RNAs (including miRNAs and lncRNAs) obtained from peripheral blood or body fluid exosomes are more abundant and tumor-specific. Therefore, we looked for proteins that were highly expressed by observing the expression profiles of exosomal miRNA and lncRNA in brain tumors (glioblastoma) compared with normal tissues as biological markers for the diagnosis of glioblastoma.
Service for isolation and identification of exosomes of brain tumor origin
- We select different exosome isolation methods for different isolation purposes, including the isolation and purification of brain tumor-derived exosomes from biological fluid samples such as cell culture supernatants and patient plasma using ultrafast differential centrifugation, ultrafiltration, OptiPrep density gradient centrifugation, and immunoprecipitation (IP). With appropriate methods, we can isolate and obtain relatively uniform-sized microvesicular populations with high specificity and no impact on the subsequent analysis of the results.
- We understand the biological activity of exosomes by measuring the size of vesicle particles and the expression levels of specific proteins TSG101, ALIX, or myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) on their membrane surface. We can combine multiple proteins as exosome markers, such as ALIX, TSG101, CD63, CD60, CD9, and CD81, and then use mass spectrometry analysis to perform a comprehensive screening of the proteome of exosomes, and observe the size and morphology of exosomes by fluorescence and electron microscopy.
Drug delivery system development services for brain tumors based on exosomes
- Exosomes have high stability, good biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and can cross the blood-brain barrier, making them the best carrier for targeted drug delivery. We can assemble drugs in exosomes derived from glioma cell line U⁃87 by room temperature incubation and ultrasonic treatment to increase its toxicity. In addition to their ability to target the delivery of anti-brain tumor drugs and facilitate their uptake, exosomes may also play a role in reversing drug resistance in brain tumor cells. This provides us with new strategies to utilize these properties of exosomes for the treatment of brain tumors.
