Optical Metasurface for Single Small Extracellular Vesicle Analysis

Project Member(s): Zhu, Y.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC DECRA Scheme)
Australian Research Council (ARC DECRA Scheme)

Start year: 2024

Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small bioparticles yet big players in intercellular communications. However, their heterogeneity is not well-understood due to their small sizes. This project aims to use a novel super-resolution microscopy, harnessed by optical metasurface, to analyse single EVs and unravel their heterogeneity. This project expects to generate new knowledge in multiple areas including the role of metasurface in super-resolution imaging and the comparison of protein makeup between EVs and their parental cells. Expected outcomes include a better understanding in the biological roles of EVs to promote their future use as next-generation disease biomarkers and therapeutics targets, which are beyond the scope of this project.

FOR Codes: Nanobiotechnology, Analytical biochemistry, Bioassays, Expanding knowledge in engineering, Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.