Open this publication in new window or tab >>KTH, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), Chemical Engineering, Applied Electrochemistry.
KTH, Centres, Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics NORDITA.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden; Department of Cellular Therapy and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge and Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stockholm 17177, Sweden; Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45147, Germany.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden; Breast Center, Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 75105, Sweden; Karolinska Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products Center, ANA Futura, Huddinge 17177, Sweden; and, ANA Futura.
Division of Chemical Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden.
Division of Chemical Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden.
Division of Chemical Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden; Department of Cellular Therapy and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge and Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stockholm 17177, Sweden.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden; Department of Cellular Therapy and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge and Karolinska Comprehensive Cancer Center, Stockholm 17177, Sweden.
KTH, Centres, Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics NORDITA.
KTH, School of Engineering Sciences (SCI), Applied Physics.
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2025 (English)In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, ISSN 0027-8424, E-ISSN 1091-6490, Vol. 122, no 16, article id e2414174122Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The elastic properties of nanoscale extracellular vesicles (EVs) are believed to influence their cellular interactions, thus having a profound implication in intercellular communication. However, accurate quantification of their elastic modulus is challenging due to their nanoscale dimensions and their fluid-like lipid bilayer. We show that the previous attempts to develop atomic force microscopy-based protocol are flawed as they lack theoretical underpinning as well as ignore important contributions arising from the surface adhesion forces and membrane fluctuations. We develop a protocol comprising a theoretical framework, experimental technique, and statistical approach to accurately quantify the bending and elastic modulus of EVs. The method reveals that membrane fluctuations play a dominant role even for a single EV. The method is then applied to EVs derived from human embryonic kidney cells and their genetically engineered classes altering the tetraspanin expression. The data show a large spread; the area modulus is in the range of 4 to 19 mN/m and the bending modulus is in the range of 15 to 33 kBT, respectively. Surprisingly, data for a single EV, revealed by repeated measurements, also show a spread that is attributed to their compositionally heterogeneous fluid membrane and thermal effects. Our protocol uncovers the influence of membrane protein alterations on the elastic modulus of EVs.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2025
Keywords
atomic force microscopy, elasticity, extracellular vesicles, force spectroscopy, lipid bilayer
National Category
Biophysics Condensed Matter Physics
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-363199 (URN)10.1073/pnas.2414174122 (DOI)001477124900001 ()40249788 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-105003630452 (Scopus ID)
Note
QC 20250512
2025-05-072025-05-072025-05-12Bibliographically approved