Ultrasound-Amplified Exosome Secretion and Antibody-Free SERS Profiling for APOE Genotype-Dependent Signatures

However, conventional exosome analyses often fail to capture subtle, genotype-specific pathological variations due to limited vesicle yield, low detection sensitivity, and reliance on predefined markers. Here, we present an integrated approach that combines ultrasound-induced exosome amplification with an antibody-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform to sensitively detect genotype-dependent pathological differences.

By applying optimized low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), we achieved up to 100-fold enhancement in exosome secretion via the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) pathway and monitored the dynamics of this amplification. To improve detection, we developed a gold-coated zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowire-based SERS substrate that amplifies exosomal signal intensity by more than fourfold without requiring antibodies.