A reliable high-throughput OECT-based bioelectronic system enabling pan-specific vesicle quantification Giulia Frusconi, Angelo Musicò, Andrea Zendrini, Zsolt M. Kovács-Vajna, Lucia Paolini, Paolo Bergese, Fabrizio Torricelli Biosensors and Bioelectronics X, 2026 Next-generation extracellular vesicle (EV) technologies are transforming biomanufacturing and functional product development. Quantifying EVs based on their membrane protein content is crucial for ensuring consistent yield, composition, and functional performance in manufacturing pipelines. Existing methods measure EV size and concentration but provide no information on membrane protein presence, whereas immunoaffinity approaches depend on specific markers that may be inconsistently expressed due to EV heterogeneity. Here we demonstrate a reliable bioelectronic system for pan-specific, high-throughput total EV quantification, achieving 12 independent parallel analysis in less than 15 min, with false-positive and false-negative rates below 1%. The system features multiple channel-functionalized arrays of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) in a 3 × 4 matrix configuration. Click chemistry enables real-time detection of EVs with membrane proteins, with a limit of identification of 6 × 106 particles ml−1 and a dynamic range spanning three orders of magnitude. By integrating functionalized OECT arrays with 3D-printed fluidic devices into a low-cost, disposable cartridge operated by a compact silicon-based electronic reader, the system enables rapid, reliable, and pan-specific total EV quantification in a user-friendly format, opening opportunities for in-line quality control and scalable implementation in biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical processes.
FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED (FT-IR) SPECTROSCOPY OF PLASMA AS A LIQUID BIOPSY FOR MONITORING ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA AND EXTRAMEDULLARY RELAPSE FOLLOWING ALLO-HSCT Alessandro Leoni Haematologica, 2026 Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) remain a major cause of treatment failure. Among relapse patterns, extramedullary disease, referred to as myeloid sarcoma, representing a rare but clinically significant scenario, characterized by infiltration of leukemic blasts in tissues outside the bone marrow. Diagnosis is challenging and requires a multimodal approach integrating imaging, histopathology and immunophenotyping to confirm the myeloid origin of blasts. Prognosis is influenced by localization, disease burden and characteristic and response to therapy. In this single-Centre study, we employed a liquid biopsy approach based on Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to analyze plasma samples from AML patients collected at diagnosis, pre- and post-allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), bone marrow (BM) relapse, and myeloid sarcoma, as well as from healthy controls. Spectral data were normalized using standard normal variate and analyzed with multivariate and machine-learning approaches (Random Forest) with leave-one-patient-out cross-validation. The overall comparison between healthy and pathological subjects demonstrated high discriminatory power (AUC=0.866; Accuracy=0.826), with optimized sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 80%, highlighting the presence of a characteristic FT-IR spectral signature associated with the AML and sarcomatous pathology (Figure 1A). The comparison between the diagnostic phase and BM relapse or myeloid sarcoma showed excellent discrimination (Figures 1B and 1C), as well as the difference between medullary and sarcomatous relapse (Figure 1D). This suggests that, although differences exist, the metabolic, molecular and structura profile detected by FT-IR differs in the two types of relapse, indicating peculiar biochemical features related with the clinical presentations. Furthermore, analysis of post-HSCT spectra revealed a gradual return to a physiological condition, with normalization observed in 88.8 and 94.4% of samples at +30 and +90 days, respectively, consistent with partial metabolic recovery.In conclusion, our findings suggest for the first time that FT-IR spectroscopy applied to plasma represents a promising liquid biopsy tool for monitoring AML and its post-HSCT relapse. The method’s ability to distinguish the diagnostic phase from relapse, the relapse types, and to capture a gradual normalization of the spectral profile in post-transplant samples (up to 94.4% of patients at 90 days) indicates that plasma biochemical changes accurately reflect the patients’ clinical and metabolic status, supporting its potential use in clinical practice.FT-IR offers a sensitive, non-invasive approach to detect biochemical alterations, potentially providing complementary biomarkers for disease monitoring and early relapse prediction. Further studies are warranted to explore these FT-IR-derived signatures and to integrate this approach into precision monitoring strategies for AML patients.
TRACKING RESIDUAL CML: COMPLEMENTARY INSIGHTS FROM CD26+ STEM CELLS AND EXTRACELLULAR BCR::ABL Alessia Cavalleri Haematologica, 2026 Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder driven by the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have revolutionized disease management, leukemic stem cells (LSCs) persist, sustaining minimal residual disease and relapse. A subset expressing the CD26 membrane marker represents a population of proliferating LSCs detectable in bone marrow and peripheral blood. Parallelly, extracellular vesicles (EV) have emerged as promising circulating biomarkers, as they carry BCR::ABL1 transcripts protected within their lipidic membrane. However, the relationship between residual CD26+ LSCs and EV-associated BCR::ABL1 remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the correlation between circulating CD26+ LSCs and vesicular BCR::ABL1 transcripts as complementary indicators of residual disease activity in CML.Peripheral blood (PB) from 44 adult CML patients in at least major molecular response under TKI therapy was analyzed. Circulating CD26+ LSCs were quantified by multiparametric flow cytometry on the CD45+/CD34+/CD38- population using four-color staining. The extracellular vesicle-enriched secretome (EVES) was isolated from plasma and characterized by Western blot, colloidal nanoplasmonic assay, and atomic force microscopy. Vesicular BCR::ABL1 transcripts were quantified by digital PCR (dPCR) and compared with BCR::ABL1 levels in PB cells.EVES characterization confirmed vesicular particles expressing CD63 and FLOT-1 (Figure 1A), with minimal soluble protein contamination (Figure 1B) and typical spherical morphology (Figure 1C). The median number of circulating CD26+ LSCs was 0.00625 cells/μL (range 0-0.1565), with 32% of patients showing undetectable levels. Median EVES BCR::ABL1 was 0.230 copies/μL (range 0-0.790), with 14% undetectable (Figure 1D). No correlation was found between CD26⁺ cells or EVES BCR::ABL1 and molecular response, BCR::ABL1 IS%, or dPCR values in PB cells, nor with age or therapy duration (Figure 1E). A significant inverse correlation was observed between CD26+ LSC counts and vesicular BCR::ABL1 transcripts (r = –0.39, p = 0.0085), even stronger in deep molecular responders (r = –0.45, p = 0.0079) (Figure 1F). Patients in treatment-free remission showed higher CD26+ LSC counts, whereas EVES BCR::ABL1 tended to be higher in those under TKI treatment (Figure 1G).Circulating CD26+ LSCs and vesicle-associated BCR::ABL1 transcripts show an inverse relationship, reflecting complementary aspects of residual leukemic activity in CML. As CD26+ LSCs decline, vesicular BCR::ABL1 may increase, possibly indicating activation of alternative leukemic compartments or enhanced vesicular secretion. Combined monitoring of these cellular and vesicular biomarkers may improve detection of residual disease and provide new insights into CML biology. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings and define the biological and prognostic significance of BCR::ABL1-loaded vesicles.
Ethanol-Guided Hybridization of Extracellular Vesicles with Liquid-Crystalline Lipid Nanoparticles Valentina Pacciani, Jacopo Cardellini, Arianna Balestri, Marta Rojas-Rodríguez, Martino Calamai, Mattia Tiboni, Luca Casettari, Catherine E. Saunders, Anam A. Karimi, Gennaro Sanità, Emanuela Esposito, Andrea Zendrini, Annalisa Radeghieri, Lucia Paolini, Paolo Bergese, Costanza Montis, Lucrezia Caselli, Debora Berti ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2026 High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Hybrid nanosystems that integrate biological and synthetic lipid assemblies hold great promise for tailoring nanoscale interfaces with programmable chemical and structural functionality. However, existing approaches to hybridize extracellular vesicles (EVs) with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) compromise either the EV bioactivity or the native supramolecular organization of synthetic LNPs, undermining structure-dependent functionality. Here, we introduce an ethanol-mediated microfluidic assembly route that enables the in situ formation and hybridization of nonlamellar liquid-crystalline lipid nanoparticles (LCNPs) with red-blood-cell-derived EVs (RBCEVs) in a single step. This process exploits ethanol-induced interfacial reorganization to drive EV incorporation without compromising the LCNP cubic architecture. Synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and cryogenic electron microscopy reveal hybrid nanoparticles that retain long-range cubic order, with RBCEV membrane proteins localized within phase-segregated nanodomains. Single-particle Raman analysis and enzymatic assays confirm molecular-level hybridization and preserved EV biofunctionality. Hybrid LCNPs also exhibit enhanced uptake in HEK293t cells. Mechanistic SAXS studies uncover that ethanol transiently stabilizes a swollen sponge-like intermediate, which mediates controlled fusion and acts as a structural template upon solvent removal, imparting long-lasting structural stability. This study elucidates the physicochemical mechanism of ethanol-guided hybridization between biogenic systems and soft nanostructured colloids, establishing design principles for structurally controlled nanohybrids with broad applicability in nanomedicine.
Orthogonal Investigation at Single-Particle and Ensemble Levels Uncovers Lipoprotein-Extracellular Vesicle Binding Angelo Musicò, Roberto Frigerio, Karl Normak, Sabrina Scolari, Alessandro Gori, Paolo Arosio, Annalisa Radeghieri, Lucia Paolini, Miriam Romano, Irantzu Llarena, Sergio E. Moya, Andrea Zendrini, Paolo Bergese Analytical Chemistry, 2026 Mesoscale interactions critically shape the biological identity of extracellular nanoparticles, including extracellular vesicles. These interactions encompass biomolecular coronas, transient aggregation, and fusion events. Among them, the interaction between extracellular vesicles and lipoproteins has recently garnered significant attention due to their potential impact on functionality and in vivo fate of extracellular vesicles. In this work, we present a first investigation of the binding between human red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles and lipoproteins across multiple scales, in both buffer and plasma. Red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles were selected as a model system for their physicochemical homogeneity, potential in personalized medicine, and production scalability. To achieve this, we employed an ad hoc suite of orthogonal analytical techniques: fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS), super-resolution microscopy, flow cytometry, and Single Molecule Array assays (Simoa). Our results reveal class-specific and context-dependent extracellular vesicle-lipoprotein associations. Notably, lipoproteins bind to extracellular vesicles with affinities ranging from 10 nM to 1 μM and with up to 100% extracellular vesicles interacting with high-density lipoproteins in the presence of plasma proteins. These findings uncover a complex and dynamic interactome of red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles across lipoprotein classes. This work establishes a robust methodological framework for studying mesoscale interactions of extracellular nanoparticles under physiologically relevant conditions. Its versatility allows for its application to diverse interaction scenarios, supporting systematic investigation of context-dependent effects on EV-LP binding.
Red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles as biomaterials: the opportunity of freezing-induced accelerated aging Lucia Paolini, Miriam Romano, Valentina Mangolini, Selene Tassoni, Shuhan Jiang, Elena Laura Mazzoldi, Angelo Musicò, Andrea Zendrini, Anna Kashkanova, Vahid Sandoghdar, Anna C. Berardi, Silvia Clara Giliani, Paolo Bergese, Annalisa Radeghieri Biomaterials Science, 2026 Freeze–thaw-induced ageing enables the generation of homogeneous RBC-EV populations with preserved bioactivity, enhancing their standardization and applicability as biomaterials in nanomedicine.
Tracking leukemic residuals: dissecting the inverse relationship between CD26+ stem cells and extracellular BCR::ABL1 transcript in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Silvia Mutti, Alessia Cavalleri, Anna Sicuranza, Paola Pacelli, Claudia Ielo, Lucia Paolini, Valentina Mangolini, Alessandro Leoni, Teresa Miracapillo, Camilla Turriziani, Elisabetta Abruzzese, Mirko Farina, Annalisa Radeghieri, Michele Malagola, Massimo Breccia, Monica Bocchia, Domenico Russo, Simona Bernardi Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 2025 Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) persists due to leukemic stem cells, notably the CD26+ subset. We investigated correlations between circulating CD26+ leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and BCR::ABL1 transcripts in an extracellular vesicle–enriched secretome (EVES) from plasma samples of 44 CML patients. EVES were characterized and BCR::ABL1 quantified via digital PCR. We observed an inverse correlation between CD26+LSC counts and EVES BCR::ABL1 levels, especially in deep molecular responders (DMR). CD26+LSCs were elevated in patients in treatment-free remission (TFR), while EVES BCR::ABL1 levels were higher in those receiving therapy. These findings suggest distinct dynamics between LSC populations and vesicle-mediated transcript release, with potential implications for CML monitoring and prognosis.
Recommendations for Studying In Situ Extracellular Vesicles From Solid Tissue Rossella Crescitelli, Yiyao Huang, An Hendrix, Andrew F. Hill, Stephanie N. Hurwitz, Tsuneya Ikezu, Efrat Levy, Berta Puig, Lucia Paolini, Laura J. Vella Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 2025 Solid tissue‐derived extracellular vesicles (ST‐EVs) are extracellular vesicles (EVs) separated directly from solid tissues of both vertebrates and invertebrates. ST‐EVs provide a physiologically relevant snapshot of tissue‐specific molecular dynamics and can be enriched directly in situ, from tissues in their natural state, preserving the native characteristics of ST‐EVs. However, their enrichment presents unique technical challenges compared to EVs derived from biofluids or cell culture media. The need for transparent reporting in ST‐EV research is crucial to enhance the reproducibility, comparability, and reliability of research findings. The Solid Tissue Task Force, part of the Scientific Reproducibility Subcommittee of International Society for Extracellular Vesicles, aims to recommend reporting parameters and identify outstanding questions related to the pre‐analytical and analytical handling of solid tissues, as well as ST‐EV separation and characterization. These steps are essential for advancing the understanding of the biological roles of ST‐EVs and their potential clinical applications.
Assessment of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia In Vitro Models Variability: Insights Into Extracellular Vesicles Silvia Mutti, Alessia Cavalleri, Stefania Federici, Valentina Mangolini, Lucia Paolini, Cristian Bonvicini, Rosalba Monica Ferraro, Elena Laura Mazzoldi, Luca Garuffo, Besjana Xhahysa, Alessandro Leoni, Federica Trenta, Federica Re, Silvia Clara Giliani, Daniele Avenoso, Mirko Farina, Michele Malagola, Domenico Russo, Simona Bernardi Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 2025 Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia is driven by the BCR::ABL1 fusion gene. Although Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors have significantly improved patient outcomes, drug resistance and disease persistence remain challenges, highlighting the need for effective preclinical models. We observed cellular heterogeneity among CML models in response to TKIs, influencing viability, metabolism, and molecular markers. With growing interest in extracellular vesicles as mediators of leukaemia progression via oncogenic cargo like BCR::ABL1, we explored whether EVs from different CML cell lines exhibit distinct features. EVs from K562 and KCL22 cells were characterised under basal conditions using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, dot blotting, and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis. We assessed EV release and BCR::ABL1 content before and after treatment with imatinib, nilotinib, or dasatinib, alongside Ki67 expression to gauge proliferation. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Principal Component Analysis revealed distinct clustering of EVs by cell line. While untreated K562 and KCL22 cells showed similar EV output and BCR::ABL1 content, post‐treatment K562 cells released more EVs with elevated BCR::ABL1 transcripts. KCL22 cells showed earlier reduction in Ki67 expression. These findings highlight model‐dependent EV behaviour, reflecting patient heterogeneity and reinforcing the need for careful model selection in CML research.
The gold nanoparticle-lipid membrane synergy for nanomedical applications Lucrezia Caselli, Lucia Paolini, Wye-Khay Fong, Costanza Montis, Andrea Zendrini, Jacopo Cardellini, Paolo Bergese, Debora Berti Nanoscale Horizons, 2025 The integration of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with lipid bilayers, gives rise to powerful synergistic effects arising from nanoscale interactions.
Nanoplasmonic Isosbestics Uncover Mesoscale Assembly of Gold Nanoparticles on Soft Templates Jacopo Cardellini, Ilaria De Santis, Giuseppe Emanuele Lio, Marco Brucale, Francesco Valle, Virginia Catani, Ilenia Mastrolia, Marta Calabria, Massimo Dominici, Andrea Zendrini, Annalisa Radeghieri, Lucia Paolini, Paolo Bergese, Lucrezia Caselli, Debora Berti, Costanza Montis Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025
Helminth extracellular vesicles co-opt host monocytes to drive T cell anergy Anne Borup, Mohammad Farouq Sharifpour, Litten S. Rossen, Bradley Whitehead, Anders T. Boysen, Rikke Olesen, Anja B. Bohn, Andrea Ridolfi, Marco Brucale, Francesco Valle, Lucia Paolini, Annalisa Radeghieri, Paolo Bergese, Kim Miles, Margaret Veitch, Tamara Thomas, Roland Ruscher, Phurpa Wangchuk, Paul Giacomin, Alex Loukas, Peter Nejsum Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 2025
Extracellular vesicles of different cellular origin feature distinct biomolecular corona dynamics Angelo Musicò, Andrea Zendrini, Santiago Gimenez Reyes, Valentina Mangolini, Lucia Paolini, Miriam Romano, Andrea Papait, Antonietta Rosa Silini, Paolo Di Gianvincenzo, Arabella Neva, Marina Cretich, Ornella Parolini, Camillo Almici, Sergio E. Moya, Annalisa Radeghieri, Paolo Bergese Nanoscale Horizons, 2024
Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches Joshua A. Welsh, Deborah C. I. Goberdhan, Lorraine O'Driscoll, Edit I. Buzas, Cherie Blenkiron, Benedetta Bussolati, Houjian Cai, Dolores Di Vizio, Tom A. P. Driedonks, Uta Erdbrügger, Juan M. Falcon‐Perez, Qing‐Ling Fu, Andrew F. Hill, Metka Lenassi, Sai Kiang Lim, Mỹ G. Mahoney, Sujata Mohanty, Andreas Möller, Rienk Nieuwland, Takahiro Ochiya, Susmita Sahoo, Ana C. Torrecilhas, Lei Zheng, Andries Zijlstra, Sarah Abuelreich, Reem Bagabas, Paolo Bergese, Esther M. Bridges, Marco Brucale, Dylan Burger, Randy P. Carney, Emanuele Cocucci, Rossella Crescitelli, Edveena Hanser, Adrian L. Harris, Norman J. Haughey, An Hendrix, Alexander R. Ivanov, Tijana Jovanovic‐Talisman, Nicole A. Kruh‐Garcia, Vroniqa Ku'ulei‐Lyn Faustino, Diego Kyburz, Cecilia Lässer, Kathleen M. Lennon, Jan Lötvall, Adam L. Maddox, Elena S. Martens‐Uzunova, Rachel R. Mizenko, Lauren A. Newman, Andrea Ridolfi, Eva Rohde, Tatu Rojalin, Andrew Rowland, Andras Saftics, Ursula S. Sandau, Julie A. Saugstad, Faezeh Shekari, Simon Swift, Dmitry Ter‐Ovanesyan, Juan P. Tosar, Zivile Useckaite, Francesco Valle, Zoltan Varga, Edwin van der Pol, Martijn J. C. van Herwijnen, Marca H. M. Wauben, Ann M. Wehman, Sarah Williams, Andrea Zendrini, Alan J. Zimmerman, Clotilde Théry, Kenneth W. Witwer, and Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 2024
Large-scale production of extracellular vesicles: Report on the “massivEVs” ISEV workshop Lucia Paolini, Marta Monguió‐Tortajada, Marta Costa, Fabio Antenucci, Mario Barilani, Marta Clos‐Sansalvador, André Cronemberger Andrade, Tom A. P. Driedonks, Sara Giancaterino, Stephanie M. Kronstadt, Rachel R. Mizenko, Muhammad Nawaz, Xabier Osteikoetxea, Carla Pereira, Surya Shrivastava, Anders Toftegaard Boysen, Simonides Immanuel van de Wakker, Martijn J. C. van Herwijnen, Xiaoqin Wang, Dionysios C. Watson, Mario Gimona, Maria Kaparakis‐Liaskos, Konstantin Konstantinov, Sai Kiang Lim, Nicole Meisner‐Kober, Michiel Stork, Peter Nejsum, Annalisa Radeghieri, Eva Rohde, Nicolas Touzet, Marca H. M. Wauben, Kenneth W. Witwer, Antonella Bongiovanni, Paolo Bergese Journal of Extracellular Biology, 2022
AFM-Based High-Throughput Nanomechanical Screening of Single Extracellular Vesicles Andrea Ridolfi, Marco Brucale, Costanza Montis, Lucrezia Caselli, Lucia Paolini, Anne Borup, Anders T. Boysen, Francesca Loria, Martijn J. C. van Herwijnen, Marije Kleinjan, Peter Nejsum, Natasa Zarovni, Marca H. M. Wauben, Debora Berti, Paolo Bergese, Francesco Valle Analytical Chemistry, 2020
The nanostructured secretome S. Busatto, A. Zendrini, A. Radeghieri, L. Paolini, M. Romano, M. Presta, P. Bergese Biomaterials Science, 2020
Extracellular vesicles in regenerative medicine Miriam Romano, Andrea Zendrini, Lucia Paolini, Sara Busatto, Anna C. Berardi, Paolo Bergese, Annalisa Radeghieri Nanomaterials for Theranostics and Tissue Engineering Techniques Trends and Applications, 2020
Collapse of the plasmacytoid dendritic cell compartment in advanced cutaneous melanomas by components of the tumor cell secretome Raffaella Vescovi, Matilde Monti, Daniele Moratto, Lucia Paolini, Francesca Consoli, Luisa Benerini, Laura Melocchi, Stefano Calza, Mariella Chiudinelli, Giulio Rossi, Mattia Bugatti, Michele Maio, Ester Fonsatti, Camillo Farisoglio, Michele Simbolo, Camillo Almici, Rosanna Verardi, Aldo Scarpa, Paolo Bergese, Ausilia Manganoni, Fabio Facchetti, William Vermi Cancer Immunology Research, 2019
Intersectin goes nuclear: Secret life of an endocytic protein Gualtiero Alvisi, Lucia Paolini, Andrea Contarini, Chiara Zambarda, Veronica Di Antonio, Antonella Colosini, Nicole Mercandelli, Martina Timmoneri, Giorgio Palù, Luigi Caimi, Doris Ricotta, Annalisa Radeghieri Biochemical Journal, 2018
Serum free light chain assays for monitoring response to treatment in a patient with pharmacoresistant light chain multiple myeloma Biochimica Clinica, 2014