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Cardiovascular Engineering

Cardiovascular Engineering - Poster Session E

S30 - Divergent Biophysical Profiles of Calcifying Extracellular Vesicles from Osteoblasts and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Saturday, October 11, 2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT
Location: Exhibit Hall F, G & H

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Nicole M. Mendoza Hung

    Research Technician
    Cardiovascular Matrix Remodelling Lab
    Miami, Florida, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • KK

    Katherine Kaiser

    PhD Candidate
    Florida International University
    Miami, Florida, United States

    • Primary Investigator(s)

  • Joshua D. Hutcheson

    Associate Professor
    Florida International University
    Miami, Florida, United States


Introduction: : Vascular calcification refers to the abnormal deposition of minerals within blood vessels and is now understood to be an active, cell-regulated process rather than a passive consequence of aging. It is recognized as a major cardiovascular risk factor and one of the strongest predictors of heart attack. Individuals with vascular calcification often exhibit reduced bone mineral density, a phenomenon termed the "calcification paradox," commonly seen in disorders like osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease. While both vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) and osteoblasts (HOBs) are key mediators of mineralization in their respective tissues, the specific mechanisms that drive their divergent calcification behaviors remain unclear. A shared feature of both processes is the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs), small membrane-bound structures that initiate mineral deposition by transporting pro-calcific components into the extracellular matrix.

Materials and

Methods: : We hypothesize that EVs released from VSMCs and HOBs possess distinct biophysical properties due to differences in their biogenesis. Osteoblast-derived EVs, previously described as ectosomes, typically range from 10-400 nm, whereas VSMC-derived EVs are believed to be exosomal in origin, falling within the 40-160 nm size range. This study uses Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing (TRPS) to quantify and compare EVs from cultured VSMCs and HOBs in terms of size, concentration, and surface charge.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: Identifying unique characteristics between these EV populations will provide deeper insight into their cellular origins and roles in pathological mineralization. By systematically comparing the biophysical properties of VSMC-derived and HOB-derived EVs using TRPS technology, we expect to reveal distinct size distributions, concentration patterns, and surface charge profiles that reflect their different biogenetic pathways. These differences may explain why osteoblast EVs promote physiological bone mineralization while VSMC EVs contribute to pathological vascular calcification, despite both involving similar calcium phosphate deposition processes. This research represents a crucial step toward understanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying the calcification paradox and developing precision medicine approaches for cardiovascular and skeletal health.

Acknowledgements and/or References (Optional): :