Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale particles naturally released by cells into biological fluids such as blood, urine, and saliva. Because EVs carry proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and other molecular information originating from their parent cells, they have emerged as promising biomarkers for non-invasive disease detection and monitoring. However, existing technologies for EV analysis often require complex sample preparation, fluorescent labeling, expensive instrumentation, or extensive laboratory infrastructure, limiting their broader adoption in research and clinical settings.
The EXCEED project (“Exosome Characterization Platform for Early Detection of Breast Cancer”) aimed to develop innovative label-free technologies for the detection, sizing, and characterization of EVs and other nanoscale biological particles. The project was supported through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Global Fellowship programme and conducted through collaboration between Stanford University (United States) and Koç University (Türkiye). The fellowship combined expertise in optical engineering, interferometric microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, artificial intelligence, computational imaging, and translational medicine to create new tools for liquid biopsy applications.
The central objective of the project was to develop a multimodal platform capable of characterizing individual EVs without the need for fluorescent labels or amplification methods. To achieve this goal, the project integrated interferometric microscopy for highly sensitive particle detection and sizing with Raman spectroscopy for molecular characterization. Advanced computational approaches, including Bayesian inference and machine learning, were also developed to improve data analysis and enable quantitative characterization of nanoscale particles. Together, these technologies provide complementary physical and molecular information from individual EVs, creating new opportunities for liquid biopsy and biomarker discovery.
Although initially focused on breast cancer, the technologies developed during the project proved broadly applicable and were successfully extended to additional biomedical applications of other extracellular vesicle-based translational studies. The project also established new international collaborations and follow-on research activities involving larger clinical cohorts and future diagnostic applications.
By advancing label-free characterization of extracellular vesicles and nanoscale biomarkers, EXCEED contributes to ongoing efforts in personalized medicine, early disease detection, and non-invasive diagnostics. The project supports European priorities in health innovation, digital technologies, and translational research, while creating opportunities for future scientific, clinical, and commercial impact. In the long term, the technologies developed through EXCEED may contribute to more accessible, affordable, and information-rich diagnostic tools for a wide range of diseases.
