Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in intercellular communication and serve as significant biomarkers for various diseases. EVs carry biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, DNA, and RNA, which reflect the physiological state of their cells of origin, making them promising tools for non-invasive diagnostics and therapeutic applications. Effective isolation of EVs is essential for advancing scientific understanding of their biological roles and unlocking their clinical potential. Porous membranes have been widely used for the purification of various biological species from biological fluids. While membranes have prove highly effective for general size-based separation, recent innovations have focused on structurally refined designs. One such innovation is the nanopocket membrane, in which the pores gradually narrow from one side to the other. This engineered geometry enhances precision in particle capture and controlled release because particles within a specific size range enter and become trapped within the nanopocket pores until they are released by reversing the pressure. The first aim of this work is to fabricate nanopocket membranes. These nanopocket structures are specifically designed to control pore size, wall tilt, and uniformity. The fabrication process is optimized to achieve well-defined pore characteristics, ensuring consistent and effective isolation of EVs. The second aim is to integrate the nanopocket membranes into a Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) microfluidic device called the tangential flow analyte capture device. This integration aims to enable efficient capture and controlled release of beads, liposomes, and EVs based on size, utilizing TFF to reduce pore clogging and enhance the filtration process by using surface modification. The combination of the TFF system and nanopocket membranes presents a scalable and efficient method for isolating EVs.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Nanostructured materials; Synaptic vesicles; Membranes (Biology)
Publication Date
7-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Student Type
Graduate
Degree Name
Biomedical and Chemical Engineering (Ph.D)
Department, Program, or Center
Biomedical Engineering
College
Kate Gleason College of Engineering
Advisor
Thomas Gaborski
Recommended Citation
Alsudais, Munther, "Development of Nanopocket Membranes for the Isolation and Purification of Extracellular Vesicles" (2025). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/12245
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Plan Codes
BMECHE-PHD
