Project Title: Microfluidic field flow fractionation for high throughput extra-cellular vesicle separation

Project No: lzp-2019/1-0142

Period: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022

Project costs: 300 000.00 EUR

Principle Investigator: PhD Roberts Rimša (Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia)

Collaboration: Dr. biol. Artūrs Ābols (Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre)

Summary

The goal of the project is to develop a device that allows recovering extra-cellular vesicles (EVs) from cell culture media and urine for different disease research. Since the yield of the existing methods is highly variable and processing only small samples sizes leads to variable downstream analysis, this project will focus on developing a device with high yield and run-to-run repeatability. The device is based on particle separation through field-flow fractionation followed by a particle concentration step. The project is divided into three work packages focusing on concept validation, experiments with test particles and experiments with biological samples, respectively. The key impact of the device being developed in this project is that it would help to isolate EVs from culture media in a more efficient, repeatable, faster and cheaper way. This is applicable, for example, in stem cell culture media where EVs have a therapeutic effect. Further, it would also increase the efficiency and repeatability of EV isolation from urine for diagnostic use of different diseases, since the EV isolation methods are currently hindering the implementation of urinary EV-based diagnostic tests into the clinic. Finally, this project would lead to two publications, two presentations in international conferences alongside one bachelor-level theses.

Information published 02.01.2020.