Literature Digest: Limitations of PKH & Other Lipophilic Stains for Labeling EVs

Sign up to our eNewsletter to download our Literature Digest: Limitations of PKH & Other Lipophilic Stains for Labeling EVs

Fluorescent lipophilic dyes that stain cellular membranes are attractive tools for pan-labeling of EV surfaces independent of protein marker expression. However, it has become increasingly clear to researchers that traditional membrane dyes like PKH not only inefficiently stain isolated EVs, but generate dye aggregates that are indistinguishable from EVs by flow cytometry or fluorescent nanoparticle tracking.

In this literature digest, we highlight several publications detailing the specific drawbacks of commonly used lipophilic dyes for EV staining.