New Technique Detects Chronic Inflammation via Extracellular Vesicles

Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a noninvasive technique to diagnose chronic inflammation by analyzing extracellular vesicles (EVs) found in blood and urine. The method, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, reads molecular information from both the surface and interior of individual vesicles without breaking their membranes.

By utilizing cellulose nanofiber sheets to capture these vesicles, the team can identify specific biomarkers that indicate where inflammation is occurring in the body. This approach offers a significant improvement over conventional methods, which struggle to pinpoint the location of inflammation underlying conditions like cancer and heart disease.

Editor's note: Strong, dense reporting that accurately captures the technical mechanism and the study's purpose.