Extracellular Vesicle Core
About Vesicle Core
The COBRE Center for Stem Cells and Aging (SCA) at Rhode Island Hospital has developed the unique Extracellular Vesicle Core. The aims of the Extracellular Vesicle Core are to provide the research community at Rhode Island Hospital, and researchers outside of Rhode Island Hospital, with our expertise, infrastructure and state-of-the-art EV technologies to support research in the fields of extracellular vesicle research.
Extracellular Vesicle Core Services
The COBRE Extracellular Vesicle Core staff have been successfully providing services to the research community in the Rhode Island area with their expertise in vesicle harvest, isolation, characterization, and function analysis for more than ten years.
Contact the Extracellular Vesicle Core
Sicheng Wen MD, PhD, Director
Email: sicheng [email protected]
Phone: 401-444-2480
CORO West Research Building
1 Hoppin Street
Suite 5.01
Providence, RI
Equipment
Ultracentrifuge
Ultracentrifugation is the classical method for extracellular vesicles isolation biofluid. The Extra Cellular Vesicle Core contains two Thermo Fisher WX80 ultracentrifuges with Sorvall AH-629 rotors.
TangenX
By using tangential flow filtration (TFF) technology, TangenX delivers rapid and highly efficient isolation of extracellular vesicles from large volumes of samples.
Nanosight Nanoparticle Counter
- Examines size, size distribution and concentration.
- Fluorescent adapter for extracellular vesicles (EVs) surface receptor studies.
- Able to control for microvesicle number in experiments, and possibly identify subpopulations of EVs based on surface receptors
- Particles are illuminated using a laser through a prism, and light scatter is captured on a CCD camera.
- Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) – direct and real-time visualization and analysis of nanoparticles in liquids, and calculate the size, size distribution and concentration of the particles. Brownian motion of nanoparticles is analyzed using the Stokes-Einstein equation.
ViiA 7 real-time PCR system with twister robot
We identify extracellular vesicles MicroRNA profiling using the ABI TaqMan MicroRNA assay by ViiA 7 Real-Time PCR System. This system allows look up to 758 unique microRNA per sample, quickly and efficiently with as little as 1ng of input total RNA with pre-amplification for a full miRNA profile.
Facility Rates
| Service/Instrument | Rate |
| Initial scientific consultation of EV experimental design | $50/working hour |
| Isolation of EV from cell culture medium and other biofluids by differential ultracentrifugation |
Technical assistance/training: $50/hour Without technical assistance: $25/hour |
| Isolation of EV from cell culture medium by tangential flow filtration (not including the TangenX Flat Sheet Cassettes) | $50/liter medium |
| Preparation of vesicle-depleted FBS by differential ultracentrifugation | $25/hour |
| EV Electron microscopy (EM) sample preparation | $185/run (up to 4 samples) |
| Immunoblotting for vesicle markers (CD9, CD63 and CD81) | $280/run |
| EV fluorescent labeling | $100/ up to 6 samples labeling |
| Exosome RNA extraction (including QC by nanodrop) | $150/ up to 10 samples |
| mRNA or microRNA expression in EVs by TaqMan Real-Time qPCR array (not including reagents) |
Technical assistance/training: $50/hour Without technical assistance: $25/hour |
| NanoSight Tracking Analysis (NanoSight 5000) |
$65/hour |
Other Services Available
In conjunction with the Flow Cytometry Core at the COBRE Center for Stem Cells and Aging, we also provide other services, including EV uptake analysis by flow cytometry.
The list of service fee is for academic and non-profit investigators. Projects from the COBRE Center for Stem Cells and Aging are offered core services free of charge, and COBRE Center for Stem Cells and Aging investigators receive a 20% discount. For information about rates for other investigators, please contact Dr. Sicheng Wen at 401-444-2480.