Cell Guidance Systems Blog

The isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and exosomes is one of the most critical and variable steps in any EV research workflow. The method you choose directly determines the purity, yield and integrity of your isolated vesicles, and has downstream consequences for every subsequent characterisation step, including nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), western blot and functional assays

For decades, researchers have been searching for a reliable, clinically translatable way around this formidable BBB obstacle. Researchers in China may now have found one.

Theories can become pervasive without any real evidence. EVs, once thought as trash containers, are not alone: Stress causes stomach ulcers. Consensus had non-coding DNA as junk. We look at past examples and current science that, perhaps, should not be counted as settled.

By analysing tumour-derived material circulating in blood, urine, or other body fluids, liquid biopsies offer a minimally invasive window into cancer biology in real time. Among the various analytes being explored, including circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA), extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as particularly compelling biomarker candidates.

A landmark study defines the protein and lipid signatures that distinguish authentic small extracellular vesicles in human plasma.

How TFF works, filter formats compared, and why EVlution belongs on your bench

EVlution, a new affordable bench top Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) system launches today. It makes scalable, reproducible extracellular vesicle purification accessible to more laboratories, accelerating innovation in EV research and translational development.

Embryo implantation is a tightly timed conversation between embryo and endometrium; one that has to coordinate adhesion, immune tolerance, tissue remodelling, and blood-vessel changes within a narrow window of implantation. A major set of words in that conversation are extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes; nano-sized packages released by cells that carry proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids (like miRNAs) to influence recipient cells.

Among all adult human tissues, the brain occupies the extreme low end of the mechanical stiffness spectrum. While the body contains structures engineered for load bearing, tension, and compression, the brain is optimized for signalling, plasticity, and metabolic exchange. Its mechanical softness is not incidental. It is fundamental to its biological function.

In cell biology, immunology, and drug development, cytokines and growth factors are rarely discussed purely in terms of mass. Instead, their potency is often expressed in International Units (IU) a convention that can confuse even experienced researchers. Why are some cytokines defined in IU, others sold only by weight, and why do IU values seem to vary between suppliers?