PLASMONIC BIOSENSOR PLATFORMS FOR MOLECULAR ANALYSES OF CIRCULATING EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES

Abstract

Firstly, we have developed an analytical platform for measuring different populations of circulating amyloid β proteins – exosome-bound Aβ vs. unbound Aβ – directly from blood samples of Alzheimer’s patients. We found that cir- culating exosome-bound Aβ, as compared to the unbound population, could strongly reflect regional brain plaque deposition to differentiate all clinical groups. Secondly, we have developed an analytical platform for activity-based profiling of drug-target interactions – through the simul- taneous evaluation of drug occupancy and protein composition changes in exosomes – directly from clinical blood samples. Using blood samples of lung cancer patients undergoing targeted treatment, we found the platform not only accurately classified disease status, but also rapidly distinguished treatment outcomes, within 24 hours after treatment initiation.