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22 BioPharm International ® Manufacturing and Facilities eBook November 2024 www.biopharminternational.com JUAN GÄRTNER - STOCK.ADOBE.COM E xtracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as key players in intercellular communication, act- ing as messengers that shuttle proteins, lip- ids, and nucleic acids between cells. In bodily fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, and breast milk, EVs are gaining significant interest in normal phys- iology and disease states. Fluorescence spectroscopy, a powerful analytical tool, offers unique advantages for characterizing EVs, aiding researchers in unlock- ing the secrets of cellular communication. EVs have captured the scientific spotlight in recent years. These tiny membranous structures, released by various cell types, have emerged as essential cel- lular communication components. EVs ferr y criti- cal biological cargo, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, bet ween cells, inf luencing a range of physiological processes. While the initial explo- ration of EVs began in the 1980s, the field has wit- nessed an exponential surge in interest and research activity over the past two decades. Understanding the role of EVs in health and dis- ease necessitates effective methods for their analy- sis. EV analysis encompasses a toolbox of techniques crucial for characterizing their size, concentration, and cargo composition. Additionally, pinpointing the cell of origin and elucidating how recipient cells take up EVs and respond to their cargo are critical aspects of EV research. Fluorescence spectroscopy allows researchers to non-destructively probe the biomolecules carried within EVs based on their unique spectroscopic prop- erties. Fluorescence spectroscopy offers several ad- vantages, including high sensitivity, specificity, and the ability to perform label-free analysis, preserving the integrit y of the EVs. By analyzing the f luores- cence signature of EVs, researchers can gain insights into the types of molecules they contain, providing valuable clues about their potential functions. EVs, including exosomes, microvesicles, and apop- totic bodies, are small, membrane-bound particles Lyufei Chen, PhD, is an application scientist at HORIBA Scientific. Extracellular Vesicles and Fluorescence Excitation- Emission Matrix Spectroscopy Fluorescence spectroscopy offers unique advantages for characterizing EVs.