Imaging & Structural Confirmation
Visual evidence of vesicle morphology and surface phenotype
A peer set of orthogonal imaging modalities. Method selection per project - we don't push a single technique as a flagship; we pick the one that answers your question.
Negative-stain TEM
Routine morphological QC of isolated EVs at standard resolution. The fastest visual confirmation of vesicle integrity and size distribution.
Cryo-EM (Glacios access)
Cryo-electron microscopy structural confirmation using the Glacios 200 kV cryo-TEM at the UC Davis BioEM Core, operated by our trained staff. Used when frozen-hydrated, near-native morphology and lipid bilayer resolution are required.
Super-resolution fluorescence imaging
Single-vesicle phenotyping by super-resolution fluorescence microscopy for co-localization of surface markers and cargo at sub-diffraction resolution. A go-to readout for EV subpopulation and engineered-EV work.
Raman / SERS spectroscopy
Label-free single-vesicle chemical fingerprinting by Raman and surface-enhanced Raman. A specialty of the Carney lab, available for projects where molecular composition at the single-EV level is the question.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
Topographic and mechanical readouts of individual vesicles on substrate. Used as an orthogonal sizing and stiffness measurement when relevant to the project.
Confocal & widefield fluorescence
Standard uptake and trafficking imaging on labeled EVs in recipient cells - paired with the bioactivity workflows below.