Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are released from cells through a fusion of multicellular bodies with plasma membrane. Scientists study these subcellular nanoparticles (50–200 nm) not only for their role in cell-to-cell communication, but also for their potential as diagnostic tools in many diseases, including the early cancer detection. In addition to their diagnostic potential, exosomes could be utilized as drug delivery tools for therapeutic purposes.

ATCC has adopted a novel process for isolating large quantities of pure and sterile exosomes from cell culture media. We isolated and characterized exosomes from four cancer cell lines representing the most prevalent cancer types, including prostate, colorectal, and lung cells.

ATCC also provides exosomes purified from hTERT-immortalized mesenchymal stem cells. These exosomes are valuable as standards for diagnostic tests as well as studying exosome composition, disease markers, and as control exosomes in in vitro and in vivo functional studies in biology.