Aptamer-assisted isolation and analysis of tumor-derived exosomes in urine and saliva

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The effective diagnosis and prognosis of cancer depends on the ability to quantitatively measure cancer biomarkers from clinical samples at low concentrations. Tumor-derived exosomes (TEX) have emerged as a promising source of cancer biomarkers for both early cancer detection and anti-cancer treatment monitoring, since TEX carry the cancer biomarkers at high concentration. Because exosomes are stable membrane bodies, they protect the proteins and nucleic acids used as biomarkers from degradation in saliva and urine. Also, TEX can be more easily collected and enriched compared to low abundance biomolecules in body fluids.****In this project, the Berezovski research team at the University of Ottawa and a Canadian medical device company, iNano Medical Incorporated, will develop a diagnostic device for analysis of tumor-derived exosomes in saliva and urine. The device will rely on DNA aptamers to capture and concentrate the exosomes containing the protein and nucleic acid cancer biomarkers, and a microelectromechanical system with long-range surface plasmon-polariton detection will enable quantitative reporting of the biomarkers. This microchip-based, rapid, sensitive, and non-invasive diagnostic device would allow routine testing for cancer detection, determination of the severity of the disease, thus providing high quality diagnosis to guide clinical decision and treatments. This innovative clinical diagnostic technology will accelerate iNano's product development, positively impact Canadian healthcare, and improve the quality of cancer management for patients.**