Exosome Processing and Characterization Approaches for Research and Technology Development

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that share components of their parent cells and are attractive in biotechnology and biomedical research as potential disease biomarkers as well as therapeutic agents. Crucial to realizing this potential is the ability to manufacture high-quality exosomes; however, unlike biologics such as proteins, exosomes lack standardized Good Manufacturing Practices for their processing and characterization. Furthermore, there is a lack of well-characterized reference exosome materials to aid in selection of methods for exosome isolation, purification, and analysis. This review informs exosome research and technology development by comparing exosome processing and characterization methods and recommending exosome workflows. This review also provides a detailed introduction to exosomes, including their physical and chemical properties, roles in normal biological processes and in disease progression, and summarizes some of the on-going clinical trials.

Automated summary

Exosomes, as extracellular vesicles, have potential as disease biomarkers and therapeutic agents. However, manufacturing high-quality exosomes is challenging due to the lack of standardized practices and reference materials. This review compares exosome processing and characterization methods, recommends exosome workflows, and provides an introduction to exosomes, including their properties and roles in biological processes and disease progression. It also summarizes ongoing clinical trials.