Full Text:
Cells secrete nanoscale packets called exosomes that carry important messages from one part of the body to another. Scientists have now devised a way to intercept these messages, which could be used to diagnose problems such as cancer or fetal abnormalities. Their new device uses a combination of microfluidics and sound waves to isolate these exosomes from blood.
The researchers hope to incorporate this technology into a portable device that could analyze patient blood samples for rapid diagnosis, without involving the cumbersome and time-consuming ultracentrifugation method commonly used today.Image credit: Mengxi Wu, Ming Dao, Subra Suresh, Yoel Sadovsky and Tony Jun Huang
