Imaging of EVs in the 3D Matrix Networks

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a crucial role in intercellular and intertissue communication by transferring bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, between cells. However, to understand their biological functions, and to evaluate their potential in diagnostic and therapeutic implications, it is crucial to visualize and analyse their morphology, kinetics, and biodistribution in 3D environment. This chapter describes the current advances, discusses the challenges of EV imaging in 3D environment, and describes examples for most commonly used labelling methods, imaging techniques, and in vitro and in vivo models for EV imaging as components of the extracellular matrix. The research activity in EV imaging techniques is increasing strongly at the moment, which is promising for unravelling their roles in various biological processes, developing diagnostic tools, exploring therapeutic applications, and advancing our understanding of cellular communication and disease mechanisms.