Exosomes in Health and Disease: Methods to Isolate, Characterize, and Study Functional Roles of Mini Vesicles

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editor

Abhimanyu Thakur

University of Chicago, USA, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, Ben May Department for Cancer Research

Dr. Abhimanyu Thakur’s research engages a multidisciplinary approach to find a solution to questions related to biomedical research, health, and disease. His major area of research encompasses exosome bioengineering, cancer research, biosensing, theranostics, drug delivery, and neurodegenerative diseases. He received a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the City University of Hong Kong, where he studied the role of glioma-derived exosomes as a biomarker, and functional mediator via MCT1, CD147, and CD44 using the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). After that, he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation-CAS Limited, and the Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong. During his postdoctoral tenure, he worked on the biosensing of the temozolomide’s response towards glioma via the detection of exosomal BIGH3 using a non-invasive, and label-free LSPR biosensor. Currently, he is working as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, and Ben May Department for Cancer Research, the University of Chicago, USA. His works have been published in reputed peer-reviewed scientific journals, including Science Advances, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Bioactive Materials, Advance Functional Materials, Protein and Cell, Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal of Biomedical Sciences, CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, International Journal of Nanomedicine, and Brain Behavior Immunity.His honors include prestigious awards or grants including a Young Investigator Award by the American Association for Cancer Research, Korean Cancer Association, Global Young Scientists Summit Award by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, the Chow Yei Ching Research Award, and Outstanding Academic Performance Award by the City University of Hong Kong.

Collection Overview

Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by various cell types. They play a crucial role in both physiological and pathological conditions through intracellular communication, transporting a range of cargo including nucleic acids and proteins. Extensive research has highlighted the potential of exosomes as diagnostic biomarkers, therapeutic delivery vehicles, and functional regulators in diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent technological advancements have significantly enhanced exosome-based research, including novel methods for exosome isolation, characterization, and functional analysis.

This Methods Collection aims to provide a comprehensive reference for biomedical scientists engaged in exosome research. It will feature articles on a range of topics, including but not limited to:

Isolation Techniques: Methods for isolating exosomes and other EVs
Characterization and Detection: Techniques for analyzing exosomal cargoes such as nucleic acids (DNA, mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA), and proteins
Advanced Technologies: The application and development of cutting-edge techniques including microfluidic devices, biosensing systems (e.g., surface plasmon resonance (SPR), atomic force microscopy (AFM)), electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, proteomics, metabolomics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and other integrated approaches
Tracking and Communication: Methods for studying exosomal intracellular communication and tracking their roles in disease progression

This collection will serve as a vital resource, facilitating effective research and advancing our understanding of exosome biology and applications.