EVs house a wide range of different molecules within them, including proteins, nucleic acids and lipids that can influence the behavior of the receiving cell in some way. This can either be for good, such as coordinating the activity of immune cells, or bad, like promoting the spread of cancer. Electrophoresis is regularly used for separating proteins and other biomolecules. To resolve this issue, Levent Yobas and his colleagues at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have now come up with