Bionanoparticle Analysis System

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The ExoView R100 is a new commercial device which can analyze and characterize extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are spherical nanoparticles that are secreted by most cells, ranging from simple bacterial cells to those that make up complex organisms such as humans. Emerging evidence suggests that EVs are bioactive and form the basis for an important, but previously unknown mode of communication between cells, that contributes to critical processes including tissue development, maintenance, regeneration and aging. Their powerful functionality has spurred a new, but rapidly growing field of research dedicated to developing EV-based applications, including using them as vaccines and drug delivery agents, and to diagnose and treat bacterial/viral infections, cancers and degenerative conditions. The research program described here is unique in Canada and will address two major bottlenecks in this emerging field: (1) Researchers who are attempting to develop new applications require, but do not have, access to large numbers of EVs with defined physical and functional characteristics. Currently, EV populations can only be isolated from natural sources or small-scale cell culture, and they are very heterogeneous and limited in quantity. We will use our extensive experience with developing bioreactor protocols to produce defined adult stem cell (ASC) populations to now engineer scaled-up processes for the reproducible generation of targeted ASC-derived EVs. It is increasingly believed that many of the positive outcomes reported following the implantation of ASCs to treat disease may actually be due to the EVs the cells are producing. Our program will result in robust bioprocesses capable of supplying large quantities of defined EVs to researchers who are trying to develop new therapies against human and animal diseases. (2) Current approaches to collecting EVs are inefficient, highly user-dependent, and result in very low yields. We have made progress on developing a simple and cost-effective microfluidic device which can operate at high flow rates to efficiently and reproducibly separate and isolate EVs from biological fluids and cell culture fluids. We plan to further refine this technology as it has the potential to become the standard EV separation process used by all researchers in this fast-growing field. The requested ExoView R100 can accurately quantify, as well as physically/functionally characterize EVs. This device, which would be unique in Canada, will enable us to develop, validate and translate our EV production and separation technologies, and is crucial to ensuring the progression and success of this research program. The ExoView will be accessible, with provided training, to the diverse and rapidly growing group of EV researchers from different disciplines both within and outside the University of Calgary. The resulting technologies and trained personnel will contribute to Canada becoming a global leader in this exciting new field.