New tool unlocks nanoparticle analysis on standard lab microscopes
Researchers have simplified a powerful technique for studying tiny biological particles—like those in new vaccines and therapies—so it works on equipment most labs already own. The advance could accelerate drug development and diagnostics by removing a major technical barrier that previously limited who could access this analysis method.
Originaltitel: Imaging single particle profiler to study nanoscale bioparticles using conventional confocal microscopy
<p>Single particle profiling (SPP) is a unique methodology to study nanoscale bioparticles such as liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, and lipoproteins in a single particle and high throughput manner. The initial version requires the single photon counting modules for data acquisition, which limits its adoptability. Here, we present imaging-based SPP (iSPP) that can be performed by imaging a spot over time in the common imaging mode with confocal detectors. We also provide user-friendly software with a graphical user interface to analyze such data and give quantitative insights on the content and properties of nanoscale bioparticles. We use iSPP to decipher lipid-protein interactions, membrane modifications by drugs, and the heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles isolated from cell lines and human urine. This easily applicable modality of the single particle profiler will facilitate nanoscale bioparticle research in laboratories with access to any confocal microscope.</p>