Scalable fabrication of nano-to-micro carbon disk ultramicroelectrodes for single small extracellular vesicle detection†

Abstract

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) play a crucial role in intercellular communication, but their nanoscale size and heterogeneity make analysis challenging. This study introduces a scalable method for fabricating disk carbon fiber ultramicroelectrodes (UMEs) with precise size control. Size-matched UMEs enable single-sEV detection via blocking collisions, achieving a high signal-to-background ratio and low noise. This approach offers unprecedented resolution in determining sEV concentration and size distribution.