Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that are released from cells throughout the body and enable intercellular communication. They carry various structures specific to the cell from which they are released. These include specific microRNAs, proteins and metabolites.
Exosomes can circulate in the body with the help of various fluids. Examples of these fluids are blood, saliva, breast milk, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid and urine .
These fluids can be used in exosome research and their exact function can be revealed by exosome isolation.
Okay. exosomes how does he know what to carry to which cell?
Although the exact target cell-exosome relationship is not known, researchers believe that this relationship is ensured by special protein markers on the surface of exosomes.
There is no universal method to purify exosomes from body fluids or culture media. While ultracentrifugation was once the traditional method, several alternative methods are now available.
Exosomes can be purified by different methods:
Ultracentrifugation : separates exosomes from other substances in the environment with a centrifuge capable of spinning samples at extremely high speed.
Polymer Precipitation: separates exosomes from the solution using polymers (such as PEG).
Size Exclusion Chromatography: samples are passed through a column containing a stationary phase with a known pore size.
Immunoaffinity : uses antigens to bind specific proteins on the surface of the exosome
Ultrafiltration: the sample is passed through a filter with a known molecular weight value
Silicon Carbide: Based on Norgen’s patented resin method that binds exosomes under specific pH conditions
Norgen quickly and easily from a variety of sample types. exosome provides a purification method.
Under specific buffer conditions, exosomes, Silicon Carbide resin and are thus obtained with a high degree of purity and specificity.
Once exosomes have been purified, various methods of analysis are needed to understand what they contain and what function they provide. Some of these include
Analysis
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)
To visualize exosome morphology
RNA Isolation and Next Generation Sequencing
To identify the RNA species present in the exosome
Mass Spectrometry
It can be used to identify and characterize proteins on and within exosomes.
Downstream Applications
Cosmetics
Exosomes are used in research in the dermatological and cosmetic industries, from topical wound healing to potential skin and hair rejuvenation effects.
Medicine Transportation
Due to their natural occurrence in the body, cell specificity and ability to cross biological barriers, exosomes show promise as a novel drug delivery system.
Disease Monitoring
By analyzing the substances carried by exosomes, biomarkers can be created to help monitor disease development, progression and treatment effect.