Cells exchange information by secreting micro and nanosized extracellular vesicles (EVs), ranging from exosomes (30–100 nm) to apoptotic bodies (ABs, 1–5 μm). There is still much to understand about fundamental EV biological, physical, and chemical properties before clinical applications can be developed. EV mechanical properties have only been measured with atomic force microscopy (AFM) with its problematic adhesion and hard substrate effects. To understand EV mechanical behavior in less extreme mechanical conditions relevant to blood flow and many soft tissue environments, a non-contact measurement technique is needed.

We measured the mechanical properties of single microscale ABs derived from human blood plasma using non-contact microfluidics. EVs were gently stretched in extensional flow, similar to a traditional tensile test, and a linear mechanical model was applied to estimate mechanical stiffnesses from the observed stretching.

The effective shear elastic modulus of ABs in non-contact flow conditions is approximately 5.6 ± 0.5 Pa, 7 orders of magnitude lower than previously reported AFM-measured biological exosome stiffnesses and 200 times smaller than suspended cells.

Apoptotic bodies are very soft in fluid environments and exhibit lower effective stiffnesses than suspended cells. By measuring ABs in a natural fluid environment and low-force regime without hard probes and surfaces, we achieved closer agreement with linear mechanical theory and therefore more accurate stiffness measurements.

AFM manufacturers and users should consider implementing new mechanical models to interpret AFM force indentation curves so that accurate extracellular vesicle mechanical properties can be extracted.