Table 1 The comparison of methods for exosome isolation
From: Immune cells: potential carriers or agents for drug delivery to the central nervous system
Isolation method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
Differential ultracentrifugation | Low cost Low contamination risk with extra isolation reagents Suitable for large volume preparation | High equipment requirement Time consuming Labor intensive Potential mechanical damage due to high-speed centrifugation Protein aggregation Not suitable for small volume diagnosis Low portability |
Density gradient ultracentrifugation | High purity of products Allowing separation of the subpopulation of exosomes | Lower volume processability High equipment requirement Time consuming Labor intensive Potential mechanical damage due to high-speed centrifugation Not suitable for small volume diagnosis Low portability |
Ultrafiltration | Low equipment cost Fast procedure Good portability | Moderate purity Potential deterioration induced by shear stress Possible loss due to clogging and membrane trapping |
Immuno-affinity-based isolation method | Suitable for separating exosomes of specific origin High-purity exosomes Easy to use No chemical contamination | High-cost antibodies Exosome markers must be optimized Low processing volume and yields Extra step for exosome elution may damage native exosome structure |