Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer–bounded particles that are actively synthesized and released by cells. The main components of EVs are lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and their composition is characteristic to their type and origin, and it reveals the physiological and pathological conditions of the parent cells. The concentration and protein composition of EVs closely relate to their functions; therefore, total protein determination can assist in EV-based diagnostics and disease prognosis. Here, we present a simple, reagent-free method based on attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy to quantify the protein content of EV samples without any further sample preparation. After calibration with bovine serum albumin, the protein concentration of red blood cell–derived EVs (REVs) were investigated by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The integrated area of the amide I band was calculated from the IR spectra of REVs, which was proportional to the protein quantity in the sample‚ regardless of its secondary structure. A spike test and a dilution test were performed to determine the ability to use ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for protein quantification in EV samples, which resulted in linearity with R² values as high as 0.992 over the concentration range of 0.08 to 1 mg/mL. Additionally, multivariate calibration with the partial least squares (PLS) regression method was carried out on the bovine serum albumin and EV spectra. R² values were 0.94 for the calibration and 0.91 for the validation set. The results indicate that ATR-FTIR measurements provide a reliable method for reagent-free protein quantification of EVs.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released during the storage of red blood cell (RBC) concentrates and might play adverse or beneficial roles throughout the utilization of blood products (transfusion). Knowledge of EV release associated factors and mechanism amends blood product management. In the present work the impact of storage time and medium (blood preserving additive vs isotonic phosphate buffer) on the composition, size, and concentration of EVs was studied using attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, microfluidic resistive pulse sensing (MRPS) and freeze-fraction combined transmission electron micrography (FF-TEM). The spectroscopic protein-to-lipid ratio based on amide and the C–H stretching band intensity ratio indicated the formation of various vesicle subpopulations depending on storage conditions. After short storage, nanoparticles with high relative protein content were detected. Spectral analysis also suggested differences in lipid and protein composition, too. The fingerprint region (from 1300 to 1000 cm⁻¹) of the IR spectra furnishes additional information about the biomolecular composition of RBC-derived EVs (REVs) such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), lactose, glucose, and oxidized hemoglobin. The difference between the vesicle subpopulations reveals the complexity of the REV formation mechanism. IR spectroscopy, as a quick, cost-effective, and label-free technique provides valuable novel biochemical insight and might be used complementary to traditional omics approaches on EVs.

Cochleates, calcium-stabilized membrane rolls of nanoscale diameter, promise a unique and efficient way of delivering lipid-soluble drugs, proteins or nucleic acids into biological systems because they protect the encapsulated material against enzymatic or chemical degradation. Self-aggregation, which typically arises during production and storage is a major obstacle that has so far precluded the development of an efficient cochleate-based drug-delivery system. Here we show that citric acid, added transiently in a narrow concentration range, effectively disperses cochleate aggregates, stabilizes the disperse state for long-term storage and preserves the canonical ultrastructure and topological characteristics of cochleate nanoparticles.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used to sterically stabilize liposomes and improve the pharmacokinetic profile of drugs, peptides and nanoparticles. Here we report that ammonium sulfate (AS) can evoke the aggregation of PEGylated vesicles in a concentration-dependent manner. Liposomes with 5mol% PEG were colloidally stable at AS concentrations up to 0.7mM, above which they precipitated and formed micron-size aggregates with irregular shape. While aggregation was reversible up to 0.9M of AS, above 1M fusion occurred, which irreversibly distorted the size distribution. Zeta potential of liposomes markedly increased from -71±2.5mV to 2±0.5mV upon raising the AS concentration from 0 to 0.1M, but no considerable increase was seen during further AS addition, showing that the aggregation is independent of surface charge. There was no aggregation in the absence of the PEG chains, and increasing PEG molar% shifted the aggregation threshold to lower AS concentrations. Changes in the FTIR spectral features of PEGylated vesicles suggest that AS dehydrates PEG chains. Other kosmotropic salts also led to aggregation, while chaotropic salts did not, which indicates a general kosmotropic phenomenon. The driving force behind aggregation is likely to be the hydrophobic effect due to salting out the polymer similarly to what happens during protein purification or Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography. Since liposome aggregation and fusion may result in difficulties during formulation and adverse reaction upon application, the phenomena detailed in this paper may have both technological and therapeutical consequences.