- Biobank sample reuse: PROSPR enables re-analysis of stored whole-blood specimens, expanding the research value of existing biobank collections.
- Improved biological insight: The method captures signals from platelets and mitochondria that can be missed when analyzing only plasma or serum.
- Biomarker discovery: Preserved extracellular vesicles could support identification of biomarkers for earlier disease diagnosis and monitoring.
The +Pec Proteomics research group at the Institute for Biomedical Research of Lleida (IRBLleida) and the University of Lleida has contributed to the development and optimization of PROSPR, or Protein Organic Solvent PRecipitation.
The method is designed to isolate and analyze extracellular vesicles directly from whole-blood samples while maintaining their structural integrity. The advance could provide biobanks and researchers with a new way to extract additional biological information from stored blood specimens.
The study, published in Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Nucleic Acids, highlights the potential of whole-blood analysis to recover information that can be overlooked when only plasma or serum fractions are examined.
Capturing Biological Signals Previously Missed
Extracellular vesicles are released naturally by cells and circulate through bodily fluids such as blood. They carry proteins, lipids and genetic material that can provide insights into physiological and pathological processes.
According to the researchers, analyzing whole blood with PROSPR allows researchers to detect signals associated with platelets and mitochondria, offering a broader representation of biological status than approaches focused exclusively on plasma or serum.
This broader molecular perspective could be particularly valuable for biomarker research, where subtle biological signals may provide clues about disease development, progression or treatment response.
Preserving Vesicle Integrity for Downstream Research
A key feature of the PROSPR protocol is its ability to purify samples without relying on complex and time-consuming procedures. This could make the approach more adaptable to hospital clinical laboratories and potentially facilitate integration into research workflows.
The research team emphasized that the method preserves the morphology and structure of extracellular vesicles while producing samples suitable for subsequent analysis. Maintaining vesicle integrity is important because structural damage during isolation could affect downstream characterization and interpretation.
Xavier Gallart-Palau, head of the +Pec Proteomics group, said, “This method maintains the morphology and structure of the vesicles intact and allows us to obtain a high-quality sample, ready to study at the same time.”
Unlocking the Value of Stored Biobank Samples
For biobanks, one of the most significant implications of the method is its potential to generate new research value from existing collections. Stored blood samples can contain biological information that was not accessible when the specimens were originally collected or analyzed.
JosĆ© Antonio SĆ”nchez MilĆ”n, a research fellow in the +Pec Proteomics group, said, “Making use of these stored blood samples optimizes research resources and brings us closer to more precise and earlier diagnoses for patients.”
By enabling thousands of previously underused samples to be revisited, PROSPR could support retrospective biomarker studies without requiring researchers to build entirely new sample collections.
The approach may therefore strengthen the scientific value of biobanked specimens while expanding opportunities to investigate disease mechanisms and identify previously difficult-to-detect biomarkers.
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