Extracellular vesicles of different cellular origin feature distinct biomolecular corona dynamics

Initially observed on synthetic nanoparticles, biomolecular corona existence and role in determining nanoparticle identity and function are now beginning to be acknowledged in biogenic nanoparticles, particularly in extracellular vesicles. We have developed here a methodology based on Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy to track biomolecular corona formation on extracellular vesicles derived from red blood cells and placental mesenchymal stromal cells when these vesicles are dispersed in human plasma. The methodology allows for the study of corona dynamics in situ in physiological conditions. Results evidence that the two extracellular vesicle populations feature distinct corona dynamics, with red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles exchanging a higher number of proteins. These findings indicate that the dynamics of the biomolecular corona may ultimately be linked to the cellular origin of the extracellular vesicles, revealing an additional level of heterogeneity, and possibly of bionanoscale identity, that characterizes circulating extracellular vesicles.