Breakthrough in Blood Biology: The LAF Assay
A team at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) has unveiled a world-first assay that can measure interactions between tiny particles in the bloodstream in just one hour. Lipoprotein association fluorometry, or LAF, was developed by PhD student Raluca Ghebosu under the supervision of AIBN’s Joy Wolfram and the School of Chemical Engineering, and it promises to accelerate how researchers study extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their partners in blood.
How LAF works
The method uses a fluorescent dye that stops glowing when two particles interact. This “molecular handshake” allows real-time observation of binding events, enabling rapid assessment of whether and how strongly particles, such as EVs and lipoproteins, connect. It’s a simple idea with broad applicability: the same assay can be used with synthetic nanoparticles, proteins, medicines, and even bacterial EVs, without redesigning the test for each new system.
Why this matters for cancer research
EVs are nanoscale messengers carrying proteins, fats, and other molecular cargo between cells. In cancer, their behavior—how they interact with lipoproteins and other blood components—can change dramatically and influence disease progression. Wolfram notes that the bloodstream is teeming with tiny particles that typically help maintain health but can behave very differently in disease. By studying these interactions with LAF, researchers can gain insight into how cancer spreads and identify early warning signs or new therapeutic targets.
A surprising link: cancer, cholesterol, and metastasis
The team’s early findings using LAF reveal a notable connection between metastatic cancer and cholesterol. EVs released by metastatic cells appear to bind more strongly to LDL and VLDL particles—often labeled “bad” cholesterol—than EVs from healthier or less aggressive cells. This suggests cholesterol may play a larger role in metastasis than previously thought and offers a starting point for therapies that block this interaction to slow cancer spread.
Validation, impact, and the road ahead
International collaborators have validated the LAF method, and interest from industry is growing. The assay’s adaptability means researchers worldwide can test hypotheses quickly, accelerating the development of diagnostics and nanomedicine. The discovery was supported by UQ’s Frazer Institute, the School of Chemical Engineering, and the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine at James Cook University. Wolfram emphasizes that the tool’s impact extends beyond cancer, enabling broader investigations into how EVs and other particles interact in health and disease. For Raluca, the achievement is both scientifically meaningful and personally motivating, illustrating how design choices—from accessibility to scalability—can magnify impact.
Looking forward
With uptake increasing and a pathway to market forming, LAF sits at the intersection of diagnostics and therapeutics. The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) mission—translating world-class science into real-world solutions—seems well aligned with this breakthrough, as researchers pursue new ways to detect, prevent, and treat diseases earlier and more effectively.
Broader implications for diagnostics and patient care
Because LAF does not require constant redesign for different particle systems, it can speed up the pipeline from discovery to clinical testing. Early disease detection, personalized therapy planning, and faster evaluation of experimental drugs become more feasible as labs adopt LAF to probe particle interactions under normal and disease conditions.
