CORE Extracellular Vesicles

The CORE EV empowers the research community with deep expertise, advanced tools, and innovative technologies for studying extracellular vesicles and particles.  
The CORE EV provides comprehensive support, from preparation and isolation towards detailed characterization and analysis in compliance with the field’s minimal information guidelines, helping researchers generate faster, more accurate, and more reliable insights in this rapidly evolving field.
 

EV separation:
Our CORE Extracellular Vesicles facility provides comprehensive expertise and hands-on support across a wide range of EV isolation and separation techniques, including:

• Differential ultracentrifugation
• Size-exclusion chromatography
• Density gradient ultracentrifugation

Available equipment for EV separation: 

• Ultracentrifuges (2x) - Beckman Coulter, Optima XPN-80, equipped with multiple rotor types (SW32.1, SW55)
• High-speed centrifuge - Beckman Coulter Avanti JXN-26
• Benchtop centrifuge (3x) - Eppendorf 5810 R
• Laminar airflow cabinets (2x)

EV characterization:
We offer extensive expertise and support for a broad spectrum of EV characterization methods, covering both biophysical and biochemical analyses.

Biophysical characterization capabilities: 

• Particle size distribution
• Concentration measurements
• Surface charge analysis
• Morphological assessment

Biochemical characterization capabilities:

• Immunoblotting
• ELISA
• Single-molecule imaging by dSTORM
• Molecular quentification
• Omics-based analysis

The equipment available at the CORE Extracellular Vesicles:

• Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) - Nanosight, LM10
• Super-resolution microscopy - Oxford NanoImager (ONI)
• Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) - Eclipse (Wyatt), coupled to: 
  o    UV detector (Shimadzu SPD-M20A)
  o    Multi-angle light scatter (MALS) detector (Wyatt Dawn Helios-II)
  o    Fluorescent light detector (Agilent Infinity 1260)

Several user conditions apply, such as an intake meeting, training, reservation rules & usage fees. For an overview, please visit this webpage.
 

• Prof. An Hendrix – Scientific supervisor
• Dr. Ir. Lien Lippens – Core coordinator
• Dr. Cláudio Pinheiro – Core manager
• Frederic Clement – core facility manager at the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
   

• Webpage
• EVCore@UGent.be