Nanoscale biophysical properties of small extracellular vesicles from senescent cells using atomic force microscopy, surface potential microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy
Hyo Gyeong Lee, Seokbeom Roh, Hyun Jung Kim, Seokho Kim, Yoochan Hong, Gyudo Lee, Ok Hee Jeon
Abstract
senescence model. Their biomechanical properties were mapped using atomic force microscopy-based quantitative nanomechanical techniques, surface potential microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The surfaces of sEVs derived from SnCs are slightly stiffer but their cores are softer than those of sEVs secreted from non-senescent cells (non-SnCs). This inversely proportional relationship between deformation and stiffness, attributed to a decrease in the concentration of genetic and protein materials inside the vesicles and the adsorption of positively charged SASP factors onto the vesicle surfaces, respectively, was found to be a peculiar characteristic of SnC-derived sEVs. Our results demonstrate that the biomechanical properties of SnC-derived sEVs differ from those of non-SnC-derived sEVs and provide insight into the mechanisms underlying their formation and composition.