Extracellular Vesicles: Basics, Isolation and Application Methods 1

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2025-2026

Topic

The course provides basic knowledge of different subtypes of extracellular vesicles. It gives a historical overview and detailed role in physiological processes. Also covers the content and major components of extracellular vesicles. Besides overall theoretical background of the field, the course gives ability to understand the challenges in different kind of isolation methods. Gives insight into current application methodologies and future perspectives in the research field. Also highlights several possible molecular mechanisms modulated by exosomes. The second part of the course mainly focuses on exosomes and their practical applications.

Topics:

Basics of extracellular vesicles

History of extracellular vesicles

Biogenesis and release of extracellular vesicles

Mechanisms of extracellular vesicle uptake

Protein content of extracellular vesicles

RNA content of extracellular vesicles

Lipid content of extracellular vesicles

Isolation methods for extracellular vesicles (overview)

Technical challenges of working with extracellular vesicles

Exosome isolation techniques from cell culture media

Isolation of exosomes with differential ultracentrifugation

Exosome isolation from blood plasma and serum

Commercial kit based isolation of exosomes

Minimal requirements for characterization of isolated extracellular vesicles

Current trends in EV research

Role of exosomes during aging

Role of exosomes during tumor development

Exercise derived exosomes

Exam

Skills:

The student will have the following skills:

• basic and overall knowledge of extracellular vesicles

• apply different type of isolation methods of extracellular vesicles

• comprehend/resolve pitfalls and challenges of purification and isolation of extracellular vesicles

• apply extracellular vesicle point of view on research field of interest

• plan experiments in research field of interest

• get familiar with current research areas related to extracellular vesicles

Lectures

• 1. Basics of extracellular vesicles - Bánfai Krisztina
• 2. History of extracellular vesicles - Bánfai Krisztina
• 3. Biogenesis and release of extracellular vesicles - Garai Kitti
• 4. Mechanisms of extracellular vesicle uptake - Garai Kitti
• 5. Protein content of extracellular vesicles I. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 6. Protein content of extracellular vesicles II. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 7. RNA content of extracellular vesicles I. - Garai Kitti
• 8. RNA content of extracellular vesicles II. - Garai Kitti
• 9. Lipid content of extracellular vesicles I. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 10. Lipid content of extracellular vesicles II. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 11. Isolation methods for extracellular vesicles (overview) - Garai Kitti
• 12. Technical challenges of working with extracellular vesicles - Garai Kitti
• 13. Exosome isolation techniques from cell culture media - Bánfai Krisztina
• 14. Isolation of exosomes with differential ultracentrifugation - Bánfai Krisztina
• 15. Exosome isolation from blood plasma and serum - Garai Kitti
• 16. Commercial kit based isolation of exosomes - Garai Kitti
• 17. Minimal requirements for characterization of isolated extracellular vesicles I. - Garai Kitti
• 18. Minimal requirements for characterization of isolated extracellular vesicles II. - Garai Kitti
• 19. Current trends in EV research I. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 20. Current trends in EV research II. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 21. Role of exosomes during aging I. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 22. Role of exosomes during aging II. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 23. Role of exosomes during tumor development I. - Garai Kitti
• 24. Role of exosomes during tumor development II. - Bánfai Krisztina
• 25. Exercise derived exosomes I. - Garai Kitti
• 26. Exercise derived exosomes II. - Garai Kitti
• 27. Exam - Bánfai Krisztina
• 28. Exam - Garai Kitti

Practices

Seminars

Reading material

Obligatory literature

Winston Patrick Kuo, Shidong Jia: Extracellular Vesicles: Methods and Protocols, Springer New York, 2017, ISBN 1493972510, 9781493972517

Literature developed by the Department

Lecture materials will be published after the class

Notes

Student notes on lectures

Recommended literature

Ramirez, M. I., Amorim, M. G., Gadelha, C., Milic, I., Welsh, J. A., Freitas, V. M., et al. (2018). Technical challenges of working with extracellular vesiclesvesicles. Nanoscale. 881-906. doi:10.1039/c7nr08360b.

Conditions for acceptance of the semester

-

Mid-term exams

Grade based on oral presentation of a chosen topic.

Making up for missed classes

Attending the course classes is obligatory.

Exam topics/questions

In the last class oral presentation is held upon a chosen topic provided during the semester.

Examiners

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars