MNSWLGM | An optofluidic platform based on liquid-gradient refractive index microlens for the isolation and quantification of extracellular vesicles

Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) describe distinct populations of small (30-200 nm) and large (500 nm-2 μm)
microvesicles actively or passively secreted by cells. Whilst, they are recognized as promising biomarkers for
diseases diagnosis, prognosis and therapy, their purification, selective enrichment, and characterization remains
immensely challenging. The goal of the current proposal is to develop an optofluidic platform able to
manipulate and characterize single EVs and facilitate their efficient purification and quantitation from
biological samples. The optofluidic platform will incorporate a dynamically reconfigurable optical lattice
(constructed from a liquid gradient refractive index - L-GRIN microlens) for separation followed by a viscoelastic
focusing module for single EV imaging. The strength of the interaction between a nanoparticle and the optical
lattice will depend on the optical polarizability of the particle, thus providing a size selection criterion to allow
identification and isolation. Put simply, we aim to develop a size-selective optofluidic platform integrated for
non-invasive EVs sorting and fractionation that can be applied to a wide range of biological matrices and
addresses the most challenging technological bottleneck in EVs research.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/791144
Start date: 01-08-2019
End date: 31-07-2021
Total budget - Public funding: 187 419,60 Euro - 187 419,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) describe distinct populations of small (30-200 nm) and large (500 nm-2 μm)
microvesicles actively or passively secreted by cells. Whilst, they are recognized as promising biomarkers for
diseases diagnosis, prognosis and therapy, their purification, selective enrichment, and characterization remains
immensely challenging. The goal of the current proposal is to develop an optofluidic platform able to
manipulate and characterize single EVs and facilitate their efficient purification and quantitation from
biological samples. The optofluidic platform will incorporate a dynamically reconfigurable optical lattice
(constructed from a liquid gradient refractive index - L-GRIN microlens) for separation followed by a viscoelastic
focusing module for single EV imaging. The strength of the interaction between a nanoparticle and the optical
lattice will depend on the optical polarizability of the particle, thus providing a size selection criterion to allow
identification and isolation. Put simply, we aim to develop a size-selective optofluidic platform integrated for
non-invasive EVs sorting and fractionation that can be applied to a wide range of biological matrices and
addresses the most challenging technological bottleneck in EVs research.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2017

Update Date

28-04-2024
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2017
MSCA-IF-2017