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Exosomes

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles of endocytic origin secreted by most cell types in vitro. Cells continuously secrete a large number of microvesicles, exosomes and small molecules into the extracellular space. Exosomes have been shown to contain mRNA and miRNA and they are able to mediate communication between cells, by transport of RNA and proteins which can be functionalized in the recipient cell. The ability to transport bioactive cargoes, gives exosomes innate therapeutic potential as a natural drug carrier. Efficient techniques for loading drugs into exosomes to utilize the natural carrier capabilities of these vesicles remains to be elucidated.

Applications of Exosomes

The presence exosomes in blood, saliva, and urine paves the way for the possible application of exosomes as a diagnostic marker for diseases. Many diseases are difficult to detect by the methods and equipment available today and there is a growing demand for development of new non‐invasive methods to detect diseases in early stages. The use of exosomes as markers of disease is being investigated to cement their potential as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for early detection of many diseases, in particular cancers. This, however, relies on thorough characterisation of exosomes in both healthy and diseased states

An important factor to understanding the roles of exosomes is knowledge of their biodistribution. Currently, the number of publications describing the biodistribution of exosomes is limited. The main reason being the lack of a robust fluorescent label that can be visualised in vivo. Mapping the specific cell type derived exosomes can increase our knowledge on the roles of exosomes in the organism, as well as help to identify natural targeting systems.

Isolation, Characterisation and Fluorescent Labelling

The most common isolation protocol uses a differential centrifugation to fractionate cells, microvesicles, and exosomes, which are pelleted by ultracentrifugation. After vesicles are secreted from cells into the extracellular environment, it difficult to separate the different subpopulations of vesicles to obtain a pure sample. We have developed methods to optimise isolation and thorough characterisation procedures to obtain pure and well-characterised exosomes. Furthermore, we have developed a simple method for labelling of exosomes with a robust fluorescent label that can be visualised in vivo, allowing investigation of the biodistribution of different cell derived exosomes.

Collaborators:

Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark

Dan Peer, Department of Cell Research & Immunology, Tel Aviv University, Israel

Moein Moghimi, school of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Durham University, UK

Recent Publications

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Kvamme, TL, Rutiku, R, Wierzchoń, M, Griskova-Bulanova, I, Fardo, F, Barzykowski, K, Sandberg, K & Silvanto, J 2026, 'An inwardly focused cognitive style links mental imagery and mental health', Heliyon, vol. 12, no. 2, e44433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e44433
Larsen, AH 2026, 'Anmeldelse: Torkil Funder: Museum 3. Essays om rejser, samlinger, udstillinger 1971-2001', Nordisk Museologi/The Journal Nordic Museology , vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 214-216.
Norup, L 2026, 'Anmeldelse af Ole Thomsen: Besindig rebel. Ludvig Holbergs liv og værk', 1700-tal: Nordic Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies, vol. 22, 22, pp. 188-192.
Pihl, P 2026, Anna Thommesens gentagelser. in Anna Thommesen - Vævninger. Strandberg Publishing, København, pp. 94-103.
D'Alessio, AM, Yuan, H, Soria, LR, Hansen, SB, Boffa, I, Arena, P, Attianese, B, O'Sullivan, M, Cullinan, N, Pang, L, van Aalten, DMF, Brunetti-Pierri, N & Lynch, SA 2026, 'An OGT Missense Variant With Impaired Enzyme Activity in a Child With Severe Developmental Delay and Hepatoblastoma', American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part A, vol. 200, no. 2, pp. 502-510. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.64275
Mazzola, F, Brzezicki, W, Bigi, C, Consiglio, A, D'Onofrio, LJ, Mercaldo, MT, Kłosiński, A, Bertran, F, Le Fèvre, P, Clark, OJ, Edmonds, MT, Tuniz, M, De Vita, A, Polewczyk, V, Jacobsen, JB, Jacobsen, H, Miwa, JA, Wells, JW, Jana, A, Vobornik, I, Fujii, J, Mignani, N, Samani, NT, Crepaldi, A, Sangiovanni, G, Kataria, A, Morresi, T, Sanna, S, Bonfá, P, Ortiz, BR, Pokharel, G, Wilson, SD, Sante, DD, Ortix, C & Cuoco, M 2026, 'Anomalous Spin-Optical Helical Effect in Ti-Based Kagome Metal', Advanced Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202522533
Oshnoei, S, Peykarporsan, R, Heidari, J, Mahboubi-Moghaddam, E, Lie, TT & Khooban, MH 2026, 'A Novel Model-Free Defense Scheme for Power Systems Stability Under Cyber Attacks', IET Generation, Transmission and Distribution, vol. 20, no. 1, e70218. https://doi.org/10.1049/gtd2.70218
Ingesman, P 2026, Ansgar i danmarkshistorierne: En historiografisk undersøgelse af religion og politik som drivkræfter i den danske missionshistorie. in A Kasper H., C Bach-Nielsen, MS Bostrup & NA Pedersen (eds), Ansgar: Nordens apostel gennem 1200 år. Aarhus Universitetsforlag, Aarhus, pp. 295-316.
Pedersen, NA 2026, Ansgar i den danske historieskrivning fra middelalderen. in KH Andersen, C Bach-Nielsen, MS Bostrup & NA Pedersen (eds), Ansgar: Nordens apostel gennem 1200 år. Aarhus Universitetsforlag, Aarhus, pp. 275-294.
Pedersen, NA 2026, Ansgar i den danske middelalders liturgi. in KH Andersen, C Bach-Nielsen, MS Bostrup & NA Pedersen (eds), Ansgar : Nordens apostel gennem 1200 år. Aarhus Universitetsforlag, Aarhus, pp. 249-273.
Andersen, KH, Bach-Nielsen, C, Bostrup, MS & Pedersen, NA (eds) 2026, Ansgar. Nordens apostel gennem 1200 år. Aarhus Universitetsforlag, Århus.
Bubandt, N, Chao, S, Lien, M, Paxson, H, Virtanen, P, Cole, T & Ahlberg, K 2026, 'Anthropologists Are Talking about Ecography', Ethnos, vol. 91, no. 1, pp. 126-143. https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2025.2541773
Vogelaar, TD, Schwärzer, K, Pedersen, JS & Lund, R 2026, 'Antibiotic vesicles based on peptide-polymer complex coacervation', Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 705, 139409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.139409
Jerne, C, Puccio Den, D & Korsby, T, Anti-mafia organizing and solidarity movements in Italy, 2026, Pictures, Video and sound recordings (digital), University of Minnesota Press. <https://share.transistor.fm/s/9dc8cf86>
Samaras, A, Karakasis, P, Feidakis, A, Giannakoulas, G, Fragakis, N, Nielsen-Kudsk, J-E, Freixa, X, Nair, DG, Freeman, JV, Bergmann, M, Landmesser, U & Tzikas, A 2026, 'Antithrombotic strategies and DOAC dosing following left atrial appendage occlusion: a network meta-analysis', European heart journal - Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 38-51. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjcvp/pvaf078
Cohen, R, Doerner, J, Lee, E, Lysyanskaya, A & Roy, L 2026, An Unstoppable Ideal Functionality for Signatures and a Modular Analysis of the Dolev-Strong Broadcast. in B Applebaum & H Lin (eds), Theory of Cryptography - 23rd International Conference, TCC 2025, Proceedings. Springer, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 16271, pp. 675-708, 23rd Theory of Cryptography Conference, TCC 2025, Aarhus, Denmark, 01/12/2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-12290-2_22
Petersen, CS, Karon, Z, Obel, LM, Hasific, S, Mejldal, A, Krasniqi, L, Schæffer, M, Steffensen, FH, Frost, L, Lambrechtsen, J, Busk, M, Urbonaviciene, G, Egstrup, K, Karon, M, Rasmussen, LM, Lindholt, JS & Diederichsen, ACP 2026, 'Aortic and Iliac Calcifications as Predictors of Aortic Dissection, Aneurysm Rupture, and Peripheral Vascular Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study from the DANCAVAS Trials', Circulation, vol. 153, no. 14, pp. 1026-1037. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.125.076240
Suuronen, I, Luotonen, S, Railo, H, Airola, A, Bano, W, Merisaari, H, Pulli, EP, Wigley, ILCM, Vartiainen, E, Hashempour, N, Karlsson, H, Karlsson, L, Kringelbach, ML, Batalle, D & Tuulari, JJ 2026, 'Aperiodic parameters of the fMRI power spectrum associate with preterm birth and neonatal age', Communications Biology, vol. 9, no. 1, 211. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-09488-5
Korsgaard, MB 2026, Aphex Twin. in Aphex Twin. Lex.dk. <https://lex.dk/Aphex_Twin>
Zheng, P, Su, H, Wu, Z, Haut, JM & Paoletti, ME 2026, 'A Physics-Guided Diffusion Unmixing Model for Global Lunar Mineral Abundance Mapping', IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, vol. 19, pp. 7320-7340. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2026.3657892
Moradi, H, Hashemi Tari, P, Zomorodian, ZS & Mirzaei, PA 2026, 'A Pix2pix-based indoor airflow prediction in classrooms', E3S Web of Conferences, vol. 689, 05007. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202668905007
Gölgeci, I, De Marchi, V, Kolk, A, Kunisch, S & Demirbag, M 2026, 'A Policymaking Perspective on International Business and the Natural Environment', Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-026-00239-9
Knage, FS 2026, 'Apparatuses lacking care: Re-thinking persistent school absence through new materialist conceptualisations', Paper presented at The Nordic Educational Research Association (NERA) Conference 2026 , Aarhus, Denmark, 04/03/2026 - 06/03/2026.
Langdahl, BL, Laursen, NA, Mäkinen, V, Harsløf, T & Sølling, AS 2026, 'Approach to the Patient - Transitions in Osteoporosis Therapy', Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 111, no. 2, pp. e577-e585. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf614
Turner, HE, Johannsen, EB, Smyth, A, Orchard, E & Gravholt, CH 2026, 'Approach to the Patient With Turner Syndrome', Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 111, no. 1, pp. 268-279. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf517
Knudsen, LV, Mortensen, CH, Dam Christensen, H, Gjedde, L, Jensen, JF, Larsen, AH & Sørensen, AS 2026, 'Appropriations of Cultural Sustainability Across Research Fields: A Global Scoping Review, 2001-2023', Nordisk Museologi/The Journal Nordic Museology , vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 22-42. https://doi.org/10.5617/nm.13180
Lassen, MCH, Christensen, SH, Johansen, ND, Aliabadi, N, Skaarup, KG, Modin, D, Claggett, BL, Larsen, CS, Larsen, L, Wiese, L, Dalager-Pedersen, M, Lindholm, MG, Køber, L, Solomon, SD, Stæhr Jensen, JU, Martel, CJM, Schwarz, C, Gonzalez, E, Skovdal, M, Moulton, LH, Zhang, P, Gessner, BD, Begier, E & Biering-Sørensen, T 2026, 'A pragmatic individually randomized trial to evaluate bivalent RSV prefusion F protein–based vaccine effectiveness for preventing RSV hospitalizations in adults aged 60 years or above (DAN-RSV): Rationale and trial design', American Heart Journal, vol. 291, pp. 14-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2025.07.068
Johansen, ND, Modin, D, Loiacono, MM, Harris, RC, Dufournet, M, Larsen, CS, Larsen, L, Wiese, L, Dalager-Pedersen, M, Claggett, BL, Skaarup, KG, Davidovski, FS, Solomon, SD, Landray, MJ, Gislason, GH, Køber, L, Sivapalan, P, Martel, CJM, Jensen, JUS & Biering-Sørensen, T 2026, 'A pragmatic individually randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of high-dose vs standard-dose influenza vaccine in older adults: Rationale and design of the DANFLU-2 trial', American Heart Journal, vol. 291, pp. 186-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2025.07.069
Seibt, J 2026, A Process Ontology for Philosophy of Technology. in Process Philosophy and Technology: New Directions. Routledge.