New technologies for in situ measurement of exosome release from brain slice cultures

Abstract
Our research program aims to understand the role of extracellular lipid vesicles in intercellular
communication, with the ultimate goal of elucidating new mechanisms of communication
involved in disease pathologies. To achieve this, we are developing new bioanalysis tools
including tissue culture and perfusion systems for sampling exosomes released from ex vivo
tissue slices, and separations-based bioassays for the direct and selective quantitation of
exosomes in microfluidic volumes. For the next 5 years, our program goals are: 1) to achieve
key system refinements of our tissue culture perfusion system that will enable high sensitivity
measurements of secreted factors; 2) to develop a novel mode of separations-based
immunoassay tailored specifically to the quantitation of exosome release; and 3) to apply these
technologies to investigate a hypothesis of circadian rhythm coordination via extracellular
vesicle release in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the brain. We envision that our research will
enable new dimensions of study in the bioanalytical and extracellular vesicle research
communities, ultimately leading to new therapies that target dysregulated intercellular
communications in neurological and metabolic disorders.

Grant Number: 5R35GM138173-05
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Christopher Baker