TY - JOUR
T1 - Conventional, high-resolution and imaging flow cytometry
T2 - Benchmarking performance in characterisation of extracellular vesicles
AU - Botha, Jaco
AU - Pugsley, Haley R.
AU - Handberg, Aase
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Flow cytometry remains a commonly used methodology due to its ability to characterise multiple parameters on single particles in a high-throughput manner. In order to address limitations with lacking sensitivity of conventional flow cytometry to characterise extracellular vesicles (EVs), novel, highly sensitive platforms, such as high-resolution and imaging flow cytometers, have been developed. We provided comparative benchmarks of a conventional FACS Aria III, a highresolution Apogee A60 Micro-PLUS and the ImageStream X Mk II imaging flow cytometry platform. Nanospheres were used to systematically characterise the abilities of each platform to detect and quantify populations with different sizes, refractive indices and fluorescence properties, and the repeatability in concentration determinations was reported for each population. We evaluated the ability of the three platforms to detect different EV phenotypes in blood plasma and the intra-day, inter-day and global variabilities in determining EV concentrations. By applying this or similar methodology to characterise methods, researchers would be able to make informed decisions on choice of platforms and thereby be able to match suitable flow cytometry platforms with projects based on the needs of each individual project. This would greatly contribute to improving the robustness and reproducibility of EV studies.
AB - Flow cytometry remains a commonly used methodology due to its ability to characterise multiple parameters on single particles in a high-throughput manner. In order to address limitations with lacking sensitivity of conventional flow cytometry to characterise extracellular vesicles (EVs), novel, highly sensitive platforms, such as high-resolution and imaging flow cytometers, have been developed. We provided comparative benchmarks of a conventional FACS Aria III, a highresolution Apogee A60 Micro-PLUS and the ImageStream X Mk II imaging flow cytometry platform. Nanospheres were used to systematically characterise the abilities of each platform to detect and quantify populations with different sizes, refractive indices and fluorescence properties, and the repeatability in concentration determinations was reported for each population. We evaluated the ability of the three platforms to detect different EV phenotypes in blood plasma and the intra-day, inter-day and global variabilities in determining EV concentrations. By applying this or similar methodology to characterise methods, researchers would be able to make informed decisions on choice of platforms and thereby be able to match suitable flow cytometry platforms with projects based on the needs of each individual project. This would greatly contribute to improving the robustness and reproducibility of EV studies.
KW - Exosomes
KW - Extracellular vesicles
KW - Flow cytometry
KW - High-resolution flow cytometry
KW - Imaging flow cytometry
KW - Microvesicles
KW - Repeatability
KW - Reproducibility
KW - Standardisation
KW - Submicron particle analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100158850&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/biomedicines9020124
DO - 10.3390/biomedicines9020124
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85100158850
SN - 2227-9059
VL - 9
JO - Biomedicines
JF - Biomedicines
IS - 2
M1 - 124
ER -